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Bharat: "Freak" Stokes roughed up Aussies like never before
SEN • November 22nd, 2025 10:43 am
England are not a one man show like Australia - at least that's what it looked like on day one, according to Bharat Sundaresan, who hailed Ben Stokes not only for his bowling but for his leadership.
The speed of day one felt more akin to One-Day cricket with 19 wickets falling in just 71.5 overs of play. It's the most on the first day of an Ashes Test since 1909.
Stokes took five wickets in 47 minutes in an incredible and destructive display from the tourists who had earlier been bundled out for 172.
Wrapping up what he had witnessed at Optus Stadium, Sundarasen was stunned.
"I don’t think we ever imagined this, 19 wickets," he said on SEN. "The difference between the teams is Starc did it alone. England were relentless with all five bowlers.
"Stokes comes in and takes five wickets in six overs. That Stokes is a freak, but it sums up a day which went from crazy to crazier to craziest.
"I have never seen an Aussies batting line up being roughed up like this. There were body blows everywhere.
"It was a day where England made a real statement with the ball. You would expect England to come hard with the bat. I don’t know how this test match progresses."
England wake up in Perth for day two with a 49-run lead. we will be live with all the action through the day!
