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The Ashes Day 2 LIVE on SN ExtraStarc, Boland rocket Australia back into chaotic Test
Oliver Caffrey, AAP • November 22nd, 2025 8:15 pm
Mitchell Starc has struck an early blow as Australia fight to get back into the first Ashes Test | Photo: Dave Hunt/AAP
Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland have dramatically swung Australia back into the Ashes opener after England collapsed for the second time in as many days.
In the most fast-paced Ashes Test of the modern era, England lead by 204 after being dismissed for 164 in their second innings that lasted just 35 overs.
England lost 39/6 during an 11-over period after seemingly cruising at 65/1, when they had a 105-run lead.
The tourists lost 9-for-105 in the session, but England quicks Gus Atkinson (37) and Brydon Carse (20) were able to counter-attack to smash 50 crucial runs from just 36 balls.
Gus Atkinson throws the bat at a short delivery at Perth Stadium | Photo: Dave Hunt/AAP
Despite removing recognised batters with line and length, Australia opted to try short-pitched bowling with defensive fields and were smacked around by Atkinson and Carse.
The session wasn't without controversy, as Jamie Smith was given out by the TV umpire after a lengthy review deemed the England wicketkeeper had nicked off debutant Brendan Doggett (3-51).
"For me, the correct decision was made. A spike RTS after one frame past the bat, the batter has got to go," former umpire Simon Taufel told the Seven Network.
England lost 3 wickets in five balls, as Boland (4/33) removed No. 3 Ollie Pope (33) and dangerman Harry Brook for a duck, before Starc took the prized wicket of Joe Root when the prolific star chopped on to his stumps.
After Starc ripped through England with a career-best 7/58 to have them out for 172, the left-arm wizard kept up his lethal form for the third 10-wicket haul of his career (10/113) and his first in the Ashes.
The 35-year-old wasn't done there, taking the wicket of England captain Ben Stokes for the 11th time in Tests.
Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is the only bowler to have dismissed Stokes more times (13).
But chasing the total England won't be easy for Australia, with veteran opener Usman Khawaja appearing unlikely to bat due to back issues that flared up on Friday.
Khawaja was off the field at the end of England's first innings for so long he wasn't able to open - coming in at No. 4 instead.
Usman Khawaja leaves the field during the second session on day two in Perth | Photo: Dave Hunt/AAP
Veteran spinner Nathan Lyon has also spent long periods off the field and didn't bowl at all during the second innings.
Boland's revival following being smacked for 0/64 in just 10 overs during the first innings was stunning.
England promised to attack Boland at every opportunity as they did during the 2023 Ashes, but his three crucial wickets may prompt them to rethink that tactic.
A Test match has started with three-straight innings of 0/1 for the first time in history after Starc struck in the first over for the 25th time.
Zak Crawley became the first England opener since former captain Mike Atherton in 1998 to be dismissed for a pair in an Ashes Test.
Starc took a stunning return catch off his own bowling to remove Crawley on the fifth ball of the innings.
The catch was reviewed by the TV umpire, as Crawley stood his ground, but replays revealed the ball hadn't touched the ground.
Crawley, and then Australia's debutant opener Jake Weatherald, were both dismissed on Friday when the score was 0/1 in the first over.
In the absence of captain Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, Starc has become the clear of Australia's pace cartel.
England are pushing for their first Test match win in Australia since January 2011, having been smashed 5-0, 4-0 and 4-0 during their past three tours.
Tune into Sport Nation for live ball-by-ball commentary of the first Ashes Test at Perth Stadium, available on the Sport Nation app via SEN.
