Ashes 2025 began in dramatic fashion as Australia secured a convincing eight-wicket victory over England in the opening Test at Perth Stadium. The match unfolded at a rapid pace, with seam movement, steep bounce, and high-risk batting playing decisive roles. It was a contest where Australia’s discipline outlasted England’s aggression, with Mitchell Starc’s seven-wicket burst and Travis Head’s blazing second-innings century emerging as the defining performances.
The pitch offered early life for the fast bowlers, and both sides felt the pressure. But where Australia absorbed the conditions and countered smartly, England played into the hands of the opposition through hurried strokeplay and repeated collapses. This opening Test did more than set the tone; it exposed the strategic gaps England must address if they hope to stay competitive in the five-match series.
Table of Contents
- Match Overview
- England’s First Innings Collapse
- Australia’s First Innings Fightback
- England’s Second Innings Repeat Failures
- Australia’s Clinical Chase
- What This Means for the Rest of Ashes 2025
- Conclusion
- FAQs
Match Overview
The first Test of Ashes 2025 was a contest of sharp spells and short bursts of momentum rather than long, grinding sessions. England chose to bat first on a fresh Perth surface, but their innings lasted just 32.5 overs. Australia responded with 132 all out, leaving England with a narrow 40-run advantage. That lead evaporated quickly as England collapsed again for 164 in the second innings, setting Australia a target of 205.
The chase was emphatic. Travis Head played one of the most commanding innings seen in a recent Ashes contest, striking 123 off 83 balls. With Labuschagne guiding the chase with an unbeaten fifty, Australia crossed the finish line with minimal resistance from the English bowling unit.
What began as a contest between equals ended up highlighting the gap in temperament and application between the two sides.
Full Score:- Cricket scorecard – Australia vs England, 1st Test, The Ashes, 2025-26 | Cricbuzz.com
England’s First Innings Collapse
Ashes 2025 1st Match England’s opening session of the series could not have unraveled more quickly. Zak Crawley’s dismissal to an outswinger set the early tone, and Mitchell Starc was relentless. Starc removed Duckett, Root, Atkinson, Smith, and Wood in a spell that reminded cricket followers why he remains such a dangerous weapon with the new ball.
Ollie Pope and Harry Brook attempted to steady the innings with controlled, positive batting. Pope’s 46 and Brook’s 52 injected temporary balance, but once Pope fell lbw to Green, England’s resistance dissolved. Jamie Smith added an entertaining 33, but the lower order had little answer to pace and movement.
England were bowled out for 172, a total that felt far below par in conditions where discipline was crucial.
Australia’s First Innings Fightback
Ashes 2025 in First Match Australia’s reply was equally volatile. They lost Jake Weatherald and Marnus Labuschagne cheaply, and the English quicks finally found rhythm. Brydon Carse bowled with control and hostility, removing Smith and Khawaja. Stokes’ tactical use of short spells paid off when he dismissed Green, Carey, and Starc within minutes of each other.
At 31 for 4 and later 83 for 6, Australia were in deep trouble. Only Alex Carey’s brisk 26 and Green’s patient 24 kept the innings from collapsing entirely. Stokes finished with four wickets, Carse with three, and Australia were dismissed for 132.
England had a lead, but it was a fragile one — and would soon feel even smaller.
England’s Second Innings: Another Collapse
Ashes 2025 in First Match England’s second innings reflected the same issues that hampered their first. Crawley fell again early. Duckett and Pope looked composed initially but failed to convert promising starts. Joe Root, England’s backbone in past Ashes series, was bowled by Starc for just eight, a dismissal that visibly shifted the game’s momentum.
The middle order disintegrated. Brook departed for a duck. Stokes managed only two. England slipped from 76 for 2 to 76 for 5 in a matter of minutes, mirroring the collapse from the first innings.
Lower-order resistance from Atkinson (37) and Carse (20) pushed the total to 164, but it remained insufficient. Australia required only 205 for victory — a target that felt well below competitive in Perth.
Australia’s Clinical Chase
Ashes 2025 in First Match Australia’s fourth-innings chase was controlled, confident, and at times brutal. Travis Head was the centrepiece of the performance. From the moment he walked in, he played with complete clarity — punishing anything short, stepping out to spin, and picking off length deliveries with ease. His 123 off 83 balls was not only fast but tactically intelligent, forcing England’s bowlers into defensive lines early.
Weatherald supported him with a useful 23, while Labuschagne’s 51 not out ensured the chase never wavered. The winning moment felt symbolic: a team in rhythm, executing a clear plan, against an opponent scrambling for adjustments.
Australia finished on 205 for 2 in just 28.2 overs, sealing an eight-wicket victory.
What This Means for the Rest of Ashes 2025
The opening Test has raised several questions for England. Their ultra-aggressive batting approach, successful in home conditions, appears vulnerable on livelier Australian pitches. Technical gaps, especially against pace and bounce, were repeatedly exposed. Selection strategy may also need re-evaluation, particularly around the balance between attack and stability in the top order.
Australia, meanwhile, will feel they have struck the right balance. Starc delivered a match-defining spell, Head continued his rise as a modern Ashes enforcer, and Labuschagne’s composure provided reassurance during the chase. The team looked settled, confident, and clear in its identity.
With four Tests remaining, England have time to recover — but they must respond with discipline, not just aggression.
India vs South Africa Live Score 1st Test: Day 3 Action & Full Commentary | Nuvexic
Conclusion
The first Test of Ashes 2025 offered a sharp example of contrasting cricket philosophies. Australia combined aggression with control, while England showed aggression without structure. Mitchell Starc and Travis Head were the standout performers, shaping a match that ultimately felt one-sided.
As the series moves forward, England face pressing questions about technique, temperament, and tactical clarity. Australia, on the other hand, will look to build on early dominance and tighten their grip on the series.
Stay tuned for detailed match coverage, tactical analysis, and series updates throughout Ashes 2025.
FAQs
1. Who won the first Test of Ashes 2025?
Australia won the match by eight wickets.
2. Who was Player of the Match?
Travis Head, for his commanding century in the final innings.
3. Where was the first Test played?
Perth Stadium, Perth.
4. Which bowler had the biggest impact on the match?
Mitchell Starc, with a seven-wicket haul in the first innings.
5. What was England’s biggest concern in the match?
Repeated batting collapses and failure to adapt to Perth’s pace and bounce.
