Ben Stokes destroys Australia with freakish 5-fer in 6 overs as 19 wickets fall on Day 1 of Ashes opener
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England skipper Ben Stokes has turned the screws on the Australian batting order as he dismissed 5 batters within a 6-over bowling spell. The England captain not only broke off a partnership but also castled the entire Australian batting order.
The latest edition of the Ashes began with the first Test at the Optus Stadium in Perth. Australians bowled first and dismissed their opposition for just 172 runs, with Mitchell Starc single-handedly claiming 7 wickets in the inning.
This marked Mitchell Starc's career-best bowling figures in the longest format of the game, while he also became Australia's third-highest wicket-taker during the previous series against the West Indies. He now has 735 wickets in 296* matches.
Ben Stokes came into the attack to break a partnership between Travis Head and Cameron Green
England pacers Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse did a remarkable job with the new ball as the Australian top order collapsed. Even Mark Wood and Gus Atkinson were very accurate in their spells, though they could not provide any breakthrough.
Much like Harry Brook and Jamie Smith for England, Travis Head and Cameron Green started to stabilize the Australian innings after the initial fall of wickets. The two batters put on a 45-run partnership for the 5th wicket.
It was just then that the English skipper introduced himself into the attack. Not only did Stokes provide a breakthrough in his very first over, but he also turned out to be England's most fascinating bowler on show.
Stokes becomes the first English captain in 43 years to take a 5-wicket haul in the Ashes
After Travis Head's lousy dismissal, Stokes struck again in his second over with Cameron Green's wicket. He trapped the batter with a delivery outside the off-stump. Pitching it wide out of the off-stump line, he left the field open to lure the batter into playing a cover drive.
Green nicked the ball back to the wicket-keeper; he just didn't look back since then. Mitchell Starc was the third batter to be dismissed as the batter attempted to take on Ben Stokes.
Alex Carey was also trapped with a similar plan when he guided a bouncer off to the third man fielder. Scott Boland was dismissed in the same over as Ben Stokes reached his 5-wicket haul.
Ben Stokes takes five!
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 21, 2025
What a stunning opening day of the #Ashes that was. pic.twitter.com/0SOcPi5jE2
The England captain became the first English skipper in 43 years to have picked a five-wicket haul in an Ashes series. Stokes finished Day 1 with figures of 5/23 off his 6 overs.
🚨Ben Stokes takes 5 🚨
— India Today Sports (@ITGDsports) November 21, 2025
He becomes the first England captain in 43 years to take a five-wicket haul in an Ashes Test.
Australia (121 for 9), trail by 51 runs. #Ashes #AUSvsENG
1st Test, Day 1 Live: https://t.co/rRBsEkrZVt
19 wickets on Day 1—2025-26 witnesses a new record in this century
Australia is clashing with its rivals, England, and records are bound to be broken. A record has been broken once again, as Australia and England both contributed to picking 19 wickets across the two innings of play. This has happened for the first time in over a century in the history of the Ashes.
England were bowled out for 172, and then the Australian innings also saw 9 batters going down as they trailed by 49 runs at the end of Day 1. Surely, this match isn't going anywhere beyond 3 days of play.
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