Australia Vs England Live Score, Ashes 2025-26 1st Test Day 1: Starc Nails Root For Three-For | ENG 94/4 (21)

Struck on the pads and given by Nitin Menon. That's a huge blow for England, Ollie Pope who was looking the most comfortable batter on crease has been trapped in front of wickets by Cameron Green. Pope goes for the review with the hoping it could have gone down the leg.

Snicko shows negative for Pope, impact in line, pitching in line and hitting is umpire's call. That's it, Ollie Pope is Out! He could have survived if the umpire had given it not out but it wasn't meant to be today for Pope and England lose their 4th wicket it.

Veteran off-spinner and Australia's 2nd highest wicket-taker has been brought into the attack by Steve Smith. It's not seldom when we see spinners bowling in the first session of play in Australia. Let's see how it unfolds for Australia.

A partnership brewing between Ollie Pope (35*) and Harry Brook (11*) after initial carnage by Mitchell Starc. This partnership holds the key for England and they would not want to lose another wicket in this session.

Mitchell Starc is tearing straight through England, and now he’s knocked over Joe Root for a duck. A skiddy back-of-a-length ball on leg straightens wickedly, splitting Root open as he tries to ride it with an open face. Instead, he feathers a thick edge to third slip.

Marnus Labuschagne goes low, the ball pops for a split second, but he keeps his hands tight to the body and clings on. Root walks back for 0 off 7, and Starc’s sitting on a three-for in his first spell. England are in deep trouble already.

Mitchell Starc is at it again, and this time he nails Ben Duckett dead in front. Full, swinging in, Duckett plants himself on the crease and gets beaten for movement. It looks stone-dead immediately, but he has a quick chat with Ollie Pope and decides to roll the dice with a review.

Snicko shows fresh air. Then ball-tracking pops up, three reds. Smashing leg stump. Duckett’s gone for 21 off 20, and England burn a review with him.

Worth noting: that brilliant stop from Cameron Green the previous ball forced the strike to flip, tiny moments that turn into wickets in a heartbeat. Starc is on a tear here, and England are wobbling already.

Mitchell Starc goes searching again and finally leaks his first runs of the morning. He overpitches on off, and Ollie Pope is all over it, a neat lean into the drive, threading it past mid-off. It looks like it might run all the way, but the chase is sharp and they drag it back just inside the rope. Three for Pope, England breathing a little after that early jolt.

Scott Boland replaces Starc and gets to work straight away, finding that teasing late movement England dreaded. Ben Duckett gets England going with a nudged single despite being squared up, but the next ball is a beauty, full, shaping away, and beating him on the drive. Ollie Pope walks in as the new batter, with Boland already asking serious questions.

Mitchell Starc draws first blood in just the opening over, Crawley nicks off to Khawaja for a six-ball duck, and Starc lets out a full-throated roar. England rocked early.

Steven Smith:
Smith admits he would’ve batted first too, hoping the morning offers plenty of movement. He expects the Optus cracks to come into play later, as they usually do, and believes early discipline with the ball can make a real dent. He acknowledges the absence of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood but backs the replacements, praising Scott Boland’s reliability and Brendan Doggett’s strong Shield form. A quick joke about his improved coin toss technique rounds it off, even if the call didn’t go his way this time.

Ben Stokes:
Stokes says England were clear about batting first, especially at a venue without much Test history. He feels the long Ashes build-up has sharpened the squad’s focus, and the goal for the tour is well set. From the named 12, Gus Atkinson misses out, with England opting for four seamers and Stokes chipping in when needed. He’s buzzing to unleash Mark Wood and Jofra Archer together, noting Wood’s hard work through injury and the hunger across the entire group as their campaign finally begins.

Australia (Playing XI): Usman Khawaja, Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith(c), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey(w), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Brendan Doggett, Scott Boland

England (Playing XI): Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes(c), Jamie Smith(w), Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood

England have won the toss and have opted to bat first against Australia 

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New Zealand: Sky NZ

Greetings and welcome to everyone joining us this Friday morning for what should be a riveting day of cricket. Australia are hosting England in Perth for the first Test, and all eyes are on the pitch and conditions before the toss. We will get you up to speed up with all of it.