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Pom's view: "Blood curdling" demolition job scrambles Aussie minds
SENZ • November 22nd, 2025 10:53 am
An incredible 19 wickets fell on day one in Perth and just as the English media may have been preparing headlines of "deja-vu" as their side was bundled out for 172, it all turned on its head.
Ben Stokes took five wickets to help reduce Australia to 123-9 at stumps.
England tore through the Aussies to lead by 49 after day one and their media have hailed for the mental resilience they showed despite a batting disaster.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan wrote: "It looked like they had screwed up a decent position at 160 for five with Harry Brook and Jamie Smith going well. But this team do not sit down and mope over bygones like so many past England teams.
"They just got out there with the ball and got to work, proving they have an attack that is perfect for these conditions. Bowlers win you series, and these bowlers can win England this series.
"They have shown enough and created vulnerability in Australia that they will not sleep well knowing they have to face England. There are cracks in this Australia team, and they are getting wider."
England’s quickest-ever attack has scrambled Australian minds
Nick Hoult of the Telegraph said the planning had come good for England who were in a surprising position after day one:
"Hit them with pace. It was England’s master plan for three years and it delivered in blood-curdling style, causing a jitteriness in Australian batsmen not seen for decades in an Ashes Test.
"The Australians were clocked on the head, rapped on the fingers and hit on the elbow as leather slammed into flesh. England went full throttle, bowling at an average of 87.6mph, their fastest ever for a day of Test cricket."
"We've rattled them"
Mike Atherton, writing for The Times, also noted England's mental resilience, just when it all looked liked a horrible deja-vu.
"What a staggering day; eventful, unpredictable and totally enthralling. When Zak Crawley fell for a duck in the opening over, it looked as though another dreadful first day was in the offing.
"Things did not improve much initially, as Starc cut a swathe through England’s line-up with his first seven-wicket haul in Tests to dismiss them for 172 within 33 overs, barely a session’s worth of cricket. But this was simply the prelude to some outstanding fast bowling that rattled Australia, and which may well have ramifications for the rest of the series."
Aussies 'shell shocked" by England pace
The Sun hone in on England's bowling performance and the speed records they broke at Optus Stadium.
"England fielded their fastest attack of all time with five men capable of nudging 90mph. Archer and Wood go several ticks beyond that figure," John Etheridge wrote.
"So, after England’s dreadful first innings batting display, Stokes ordered a full-throttle assault on Australia’s ageing and wobbling batsmen.
"Truth is, every Aussie looked hesitant against the speed barrage on a fast, bouncy surface in Perth."
