Post by : Mariam
Al-Faris
In a dazzling display, Mitchell Starc took 7 wickets for 58 runs, leaving England struggling on the first day of the Perth Test before a lively crowd. After winning the toss, England's captain Ben Stokes chose to bat in sunny conditions, but faced a formidable Australian pace attack.
Harry Brook's resilient effort of 52 and Ollie Pope's 46 were notable, as the remaining batsmen faltered after lunch. Stokes also excelled with the ball, claiming 5-23, which helped dismiss Australia for 123-9 at stumps, leaving them trailing by 49 runs. Nathan Lyon stood not out on three, while Brendan Doggett is yet to score.
Brydon Carse, who contributed two critical wickets including that of Steve Smith, reflected on the match: “What a day! Everyone got their time’s worth – 19 wickets fell. This strong position really boosts us going into tomorrow,” he remarked.
England’s openers faced a tough welcome to Test cricket. Jake Weatherald fell for a second-ball duck at the hands of Jofra Archer, while Marnus Labuschagne managed just nine runs in 41 balls. Joe Root went cheaply with 17, caught by Brook at slip, and Usman Khawaja lasted merely six balls, leaving Australia in dire straits at 31-4.
Starc's early spells wreaked havoc. He dismissed Zak Crawley with a thick edge to slip and bowled Ben Duckett lbw for 21, leaving England struggling at 33-2. He even took out Stokes with a perfect inswinger for six runs and later wrapped up the tail, achieving his 17th five-wicket haul in his Test career.
Cameron Green (24), Travis Head (21), and Alex Carey (26) all got starts but failed to convert them into significant scores as England's bowlers applied constant pressure. Starc's relentless pace and prowess created a considerable impact, while Stokes’ captaincy spurred his teammates on.
After the day's play, Starc shared his confidence in his wicket-taking abilities: “It’s always my role to be aggressive, particularly with the new ball. I’ve had my moments, and I aim to make quick inroads into the opposition,” he mentioned.
Even with Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood out, Starc maintained his composure, acknowledging the strength of both bowling attacks, stating this was just a day of rapidly falling wickets. “Kudos to both teams. We bowled well, they bowled well, and ultimately, 19 wickets fell in one day,” he added.
As Australia heads into day two, Starc’s continued form will be crucial to remain competitive, with England being a formidable opponent. Despite the rocky start, Starc stays positive, believing in his team’s experience to bounce back in this ongoing Test series.
English
