Ashes | Stokes scalps five to cripple Aussies after Starc's seven bowled out England for 172 on Day 1

O‌pting to bat first, England got their Ashes campaign off to a horror start as Zak Crawley lasted just six scoreless deliveries before edging off to Mitchell Starc in the first over itself. The left-arm quick put up an exhibition of swing and seam bowling to shackle the visitors, forcing Ben Duckett to go after his partner Scott Boland with two boundaries in the Victorian's second over. The opener combined with Ollie Pope for a quick 33-run stand but just when he was beginning to flourish, Starc struck back with a full delivery at the stumps to pin Duckett LBW for 21. The veteran capped off his maiden spell of the series by dispatching Joe Root for a seven-ball duck after a brilliant outside off set-up followed by a rocket at the stumps as England found themselves reeling at 39/3. Debutant Brendan Doggett picked up exactly where the southpaw left to build up the pressure but regular boundaries off Boland offered the tourists a reliable release valve. Harry Brook and Pope soon after brought up the first half-century stand of the innings and seemed set to take their team through safely to Lunch until Cameron Green struck late with his only over, scalping Pope for 46 in a manner akin to Duckett. England thus headed into the break at 105/4 in just 23 overs, with Starc scalping all four while the rest suffered at the hands of Bazball.

More of the same followed upon resumption as Brook smashed Boland on the second ball of the session for an emphatic six over covers to move into the 30s. Smith brought on Starc from the other end to hit back and the left-armer wasted no time in delivering the goods as a gorgeous inseamer beat Ben Stokes all hands up to earn Starc a 17th Test fifer. Brook took it as a sign to get the hurry on as he spanked Starc for two boundaries in his next over before Jamie Smith followed suit with three boundaries in Starc's next effort. The duo racked up 45 runs in just 30 deliveries, with Brook bringing up a fifty on his first Test outing Down Under, to seize back some momentum in England's favour. However, the hosts came crashing back as Doggett made Brook his maiden Test scalp with a well-directed bumper, exposing a tail with significant batting credentials to their name. It seemed to matter little though as Starc struck thrice in his next two overs while Doggett got the better of Carse to bowk out England for 172 in an innings that lasted just 32.5 overs.

The quick collapse forced Marnus Labuschagne to walk out to open alongwith Jake Weatherald after Usman Khawaja spent too long in the sheds during the first innings, with the debutant taking strike. Weatherald's first Test innings lasted all off two balls before Jofra Archer rapped him on his front pad with a full inducker, the quick combining with Gus Atkinson to deliver four maidens on the trot. Steve Smith finally got the ball rolling with a single but the tourists maintained discipline, constantly threatening the edge of both batters and delivering a thumping blow to Smith's elbow as the hosts walked into Tea at 10/1 in 15 overs.

The knuckle down continued in the third session until Smith let loose with two boundaries off Carse, only for Labuschagne to play-on an attempted leave and hand Archer his second breakthrough to end the 28-run stand. Thus began a crippling collapse, as Smith departed the very next over by edging off to second slip against Carse, who then had Khawaja nick behind in his next over to reduce the hsots to 31/4. Green and Travis Head tried out wait out the exceptional spell of seam bowling thereafter, the former even enduring a nasty blow on the grill, as slow but surely the partnership ticked to 45. Stokes felt the moment was opportune to bring himself on and boy did the decision worked wonders. He just took seven deliveries to send Head packing for 21 before accounting for Green for 24 in his next effort, as the Kangroos slid to 83/6. Stokes soon added Starc to his tally and on the penultimate over of the day he got rid of the counterattacking Carey (26) and Boland to send the Aussies intos Stumps at 123/9, trailing by 49 runs.