news mogaznews | Australia vs England - The Ashes LIVE: Ben Stokes leads remarkable fightback with five-wicket haul to edge tourists in front after Aussies shot themselves in the foot with major blunder

Australia vs England - The Ashes LIVE: Ben Stokes leads remarkable fightback with five-wicket haul to edge tourists in front after Aussies shot themselves in the foot with major blunder

By: dailymail Posted On: November 21, 2025 View: 13

By JOSH ALSTON, SPORTS REPORTER

Updated: 06:04 EST, 21 November 2025

Follow Daily Mail Australia's live blog for Day One of the first Ashes Test at Perth.

The tables have turned...

'Toilet breaks and stretching'

There was a bit of a mess earlier with Khawaja not on the field long enough when England were batting to be able to take up his usual role as opener.

Surely 'toilet breaks and stretching' can't be the real reason why he upset the Aussie batting order...

What was said?

It was a bit spicy between Duckett and Head out there earlier, my lip reading skills are not up to scratch but I'd love to know what was said. Mic them up!

Omens

2018: Australia beat India by 146 runs

2019: Australia beat NZ by 296 runs

2022: Australia beat WI by 164 runs

2023: Australia beat Pakistan by 360 runs

2024: India beat Australia by 295 runs

Every team to win in Perth since 2018 has batted first...

Barmy Army in fine fettle

Flights and tickets to Australia, with a few schooners thrown in aren't exactly cheap but the travelling England fans had more than their money's worth today. The Test is shaping up superbly and it's still far to early to call it with any confidence either way.

Wise words from The Wizard

Vaughan's view:

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, the former England captain said: 'I think we all need to lie down, that was something quite sharp. With these contests, there's a massive build up and sometimes it doesn't quite live up to the hype, that was not the case today.

'There was some brilliant bowling on display here, when England had the ball in hand, the bowlers had to get the batters out of trouble. England had an attack today were all five quick bowlers bowled with skill, pace they were intimidating.

'Those first overs from Archer and Atkinson was some of the best bowling I've seen from England in a while.'

Cricket - The Ashes - Australia v England - First Test - Perth Stadium, Perth, Australia - November 21, 2025 England's Jofra Archer in action REUTERS/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake

Batsmen, look away now

England elected to bat, went hell for leather, got skittled for 172 and replied with nine wickets of their own. What a day.

This one isn't reaching day five is it?

Smith's highest ever false shot percentage

Sir Alastair Cook has just reeled off a stat that Steve Smith missed 49 percent of his attempted shots, which is just astonishing. England bowled superbly to the Australian stand-in captain during a really crucial period of the game.

Cricket - The Ashes - Australia v England - First Test - Perth Stadium, Perth, Australia - November 21, 2025 Australia's Steve Smith reacts after getting hit on the arm by England's Gus Atkinson REUTERS/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Carse - Stokes was in 'beast mode'

The England bowler, speaking to TNT Sports, says: 'What a day of Test cricket, Stokesy has put us in a really strong position. The energy throughout the day was awesome and we could hear the England fans. We had 45-50 minutes before tea and Stokes just wanted us to give everything.

'While the ball was new there was pace and bounce so we just wanted to hit the wicket as hard as we could. Stokes' character and enthusiasm around the group is phenomenal, he's a great leader to have. He's been out here two-and-a-half weeks and he's in beast mode at the moment.

'I was nervous this morning and tried to soak it all up.'

England's Ben Stokes celebrates taking the wicket of Australia's Mitchell Starc on day one of the first test of the NRMA Insurance Ashes Series 2025 at the Optus Stadium in Perth, Australia. Picture date: Friday November 21, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Robbie Stephenson/PA Wire.RESTRICTIONS: Use subject to restrictions. Editorial use only, no commercial use without prior consent from rights holder.

One man who never stays quiet during the Ashes...

Key Updates

Close of play - Australia 123-9 (trail by 49 runs)
WICKET! Stokes has his fifth - Boland goes for 0
WICKET! Carey (26) caught off Stokes
Archer back into the attack - Australia 120-7 (trail by 52)
WICKET! Stokes gets Starc (12) - Australia 118-7
WICKET! Stokes removes Green (Australia 83-6)
WICKET! Head caught of Stokes - Australia 76-5
Scare for Steve Smith
Drama for Usman Khawaja
WICKET! Brook 52 caught Carey, bowled Doggett
REVIEW: Brook 52 caught Carey, bowled Doggett
REVIEW: Smith LBW Boland
WICKET! Stokes 6 b Starc (England 5-115)
Pat Cummins hoping to return for Brisbane Ashes Test
LUNCH: England 4-105 (Overs 23)
WICKET! O.Pope LBW Green (England 4-94)
REVIEW: O.Pope LBW Green
The Boland quandary
WICKET! Root c Labuschagne b Starc 0 (England 3-39)
REVIEW: O.Pope run out Boland
WICKET! Duckett LBW Starc
REVIEW: Duckett LBW Starc
WICKET! Crawley c Khawaja, b Starc (England 1-0)
The first delivery and we are underway
Welcome to Country receives respectful reception
Barmy Army in full voice already
Stokes wins the toss and decides to bat
England selection update after unusual move from the Three Lions
Former Aussie Test star Damien Martyn delivers Ashes prediction
Seamers - and Nathan Lyon - could get rewards from perfect weather conditions in Perth
Jimmy Anderson reveals the secret to bowling out the Aussie top order
What would you do if you won the toss?
Steve Smith and Monty Panesar's banter fires up the Ashes rivalry