First Ashes Test, Perth (day one of five)
England 172: Brook 52, Pope 46; Stark 7-58
Australia 123-9: Stokes 5-23, Archer 2-11, Carse 2-45
England lead by 49 points
Captain Ben Stokes took five wickets as England's fast bowlers stormed Australia in a thrilling opening day of the Ashes.
In an exciting encounter of fast and energetic pitches in Perth, England were bowled out for 172 as Australia were reduced to 123-9.
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The brutal action lived up to the hype of the most anticipated Ashes series in recent times.
Surprisingly, after winning the toss, England batted first and England were in trouble. Zak Crawley was bowled off the sixth ball of the series by Mitchell Starc, who was unstoppable at 7-58.
Harry Brook made 52 and Ollie Pope batted well for 46, but England lost their final five wickets in 12 runs and were out in 32.5 overs – the shortest first innings in an Ashes Test in this country for 123.
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The tourists' five-man attack responded with England's fastest bowling performance since such data was first collected 18 years ago.
Jofra Archer was excellent and deserved more than two wickets. Every time there was a lull, England had a new paceman to turn to. Braydon Carse sent off Australia captain and Monty Panesar's nemesis Steve Smith.
Stokes acted as the fifth bowler, first squashing any hint of Australia's fightback and then running through the long tail. Playing for the first time since a shoulder injury in July, the captain claimed his second five-wicket haul in as many Tests.
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At the end of a thrilling and memorable day, 19 wickets have fallen with England leading by 49 and in a great position to go 1-0 up.
Pace opened for the Ashes in Perth for the ages.
After anticipation, speculation and trash talk, cricket's oldest rivalry has delivered results once again. It was the opening day of the Ashes for the ages.
England have not come close to winning an away match against the Ashes for 14 years. By the end of Friday, Australia would be in no doubt that they were in contention this time.
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The sharp delivery played its part, as did the cacophonous atmosphere created by the 51,531 players in the colossal Perth stadium. But what will live long in the memory is the speed, hostility and quality of bowling by both teams.
In his decision on the toss, Stokes looked to history: all five previous Tests on this ground had been won by the team batting first. Although England were poor with the bat, they were equally good with the ball.
This match has echoes of the previous Test on this ground when 17 wickets fell on the first day. Twelve months ago, India were bowled out by 150 but then bowled out Australia for 104. India won by 295 runs.
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England's bowlers brought them into this match; it is now up to the batters to play their part on day two. Stokes' team is one strong innings away from a 1-0 lead.
England finally fights the fire
England have lacked the pace to compete in this country for so long. The culmination of a plan to suppress the heavy artillery led to this horrific and merciless attack on the Australian team.
Mark Wood returned after 15 months away to play a Test alongside Archer for only the second time. Stokes is fully healthy. Gus Atkinson and Carse could be the workhorses of the tour.
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Archer set the tone with a three-ball opening drive that averaged over 90 mph. The ball, which pinned Weatherald with a pound of weight, knocked the left-hander off his feet.
Marnus Labuschanie and Smith had to change order because regular opener Usman Khawaja spent time off the field during England's innings. The second wicket pair were tormented by England's hostility, taking hits, playing and missing.
Archer returned to continue Labuschagne's play. Kars took control. Smith, booed to death by the traveling fans, made a second miss and then Khawaja hit the angry lifter with his glove.
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Travis Head and Cameron Green threatened a counter-attack and Atkinson had to contain Green in his follow-up.
But Stokes was irresistible in his first Test in Perth since he hit his maiden century at Waka 12 years ago when he was 22. Head and Mitchell Starc were pinned by the leg; Green and Scott Boland were behind, with Alex Carey heading to third.
Ashes tours have rarely seen the best of Stokes. It was a statement of intent as he offers to join the few England captains who have left this country with an urn.
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Stark breaks through the Bazballers
Four years ago, Starc bowled Rory Burns with the first ball of the Ashes series. Two years ago in England, Crowley hit the first ball of four. This time, Starc waited until the end of the first over to give Ash a chance to take flight, dragging Crawley into an unnecessary lead for first slip.
Starc was forced to step up in the absence of injured captain Pat Cummins and fellow bowler Josh Hazlewood and responded with career-best figures.
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England's recklessness helped him. Any proposal for an improved version of Baseball was rejected. Only Joe Root, who made his third slip for a duck, can feel like he's been pulled out.
Ben Duckett played across the line to be thick, Stokes left a huge gap between bat and pad to be bowled. As Starc returned to clear the lower order, Jamie Smith and Mark Wood were dropped either side of Gus Atkinson timidly poking through the lead.
Just four England players reached double figures. Pope looked confident of his highest Ash score but then horribly mistakenly thought Green was fat and trying to play on his feet.
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Brook's innings was stunning, spending more time running towards the bowlers than standing still.
The slap at extra cover for six was part of the snub to Scott Boland, who conceded 62 from his 10 overs. When Brook gloved a short ball harmlessly to give Brendan Doggett his first Test wicket, it began England's final five-wicket slide in 19 balls.
