Overview:
19 wickets fell on Day 1 of the contest, with Mitchell Starc (7 wickets) and Ben Stokes (5 wickets) contributing for their respective teams.
England are Australia are competing in the first Test of the Ashes 2025-26. Aussies are hosting the English team for a five-match series.
What Happened in Today’s Test Match?
Australia were 123/9 in reply to England’s 172 runs in the first innings of the opening Ashes Test at the Optus Stadium in Perth. 19 wickets fell on Day 1 of the contest, with Mitchell Starc (7 wickets) and Ben Stokes (5 wickets) contributing for their respective teams.
Harry Brook was the only batter who scored a fifty, while some other players got starts, but they departed against the run of play.
Today Test Match Highlights – Key Moments You Shouldn’t Miss
Ben Stokes’ introduction with the ball allowed England to put Australia under pressure. Travis Head (21) and Cameron Green (24) were ticking the scoreboard. The English skipper decided to bring himself on, and this move proved to be a masterstroke as he got rid of the two set batters. He also sent back Alex Carey, who managed 26 runs off 26 balls.
Who Dominated the First Session?
The first session was dominated by Australia, with Starc taking three wickets. Zak Crawley (0), Ben Duckett (20) and Joe Root (0) were ordinary with the bat. Ollie Pope (46) was the fourth batter to head back, with England reaching 105/4 in 23 overs. Green also took a wicket.
How Did the Second Session Unfold?
Starc continued to shine in the second session, recording seven wickets as England accumulated 172 runs in 32.5 overs. Debutant Brendan Doggett picked up two scalps.
For England, Brook (52) and Jamie Smith (33) were the top scorers.
Australia lost one wicket in the form of J Weatherald, with the score being 15/1. Jofra Archer was the visiting team’s wicket-taker.
Final Session Highlights – Who Finished Strong?
England were on song in the final session, with Australia reaching just 123 runs at the loss of 9 wickets and are still 49 runs behind.
Stokes bowled just 6 overs and added five wickets to his bowling figures. Brydon Carse was also among the wickets, dismissing two rival players. Archer added one more scalp to his tally.
Standout Performers of Today’s Test Match
Top Batters
Harry Brook: The young England batter managed 55 runs and hit 5 fours and 1 six.
Ollie Pope: The No.3 batter contributed 46 runs in 58 deliveries, including 4 boundaries. He added 55 runs with Brook for the fourth wicket.
Jamie Smith. The wicket-keeper batter managed 33 runs off 22 balls, packed with 6 fours at a strike rate of 150. He stitched a 45-run stand with Brook for the seventh wicket.
Top Bowlers
Mitchell Starc: He took seven wickets and conceded 58 runs in 12.5 overs.
Ben Stokes: He delivered 6 overs and dismissed 5 batters, conceding 23 runs.
Today’s Test Match Scorecard Overview
England 172 ( Harry Brook 55, Jamie Smith 33, Mitchell Starc 7 wickets)
Australia 123/9 ( Alex Carey 26, Cameron Green 24, Ben Stokes 5 wickets)
What Does This Mean for the Rest of the Test Match?
The match is still in the balance as both teams failed to put up big totals on the board.
FAQs on Today’s Test Match Highlights
Who was the standout player in today’s Test match?
Mitchell Starc was the standout player with his seven wickets.
Which moments defined today’s play?
Ben Stokes’ five wickets in 6 overs put England ahead by a small margin.
What is the current match situation?
England are a bit ahead, and if they manage to take the remaining one wicket at the start of the first session on Day 2, there is a possibility of the visiting team taking an important first innings lead.