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Live Reporting

by Mike Peter & Elizabeth Botcherby

  1. Australia review

    Jamie Smith, yet to score, is struck on the pad by Scott Boland!

    Australia feel they're in a position where they can afford to risk a chancy review - we'll go upstairs.

  2. Get Involved

    #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)

    Be fair, you can't blame Bazball for this, they've mostly just been good balls. In a non-Bazball era we'd just also only have 60-odd runs.

    Jenny

  3. How's stat?!

    Andy Zaltzman
    Test Match Special statistician

    Ben Stokes has scored just 190 runs facing Mitchell Starc.

  4. Stephan Shemilt
    BBC Sport chief cricket reporter in Perth

    Tenth time Mitchell Starc has Ben Stokes in Test cricket. Only Ravichandran Ashwin has dismissed Stokes more frequently.

  5. Eng 115-5

    Out walks Jamie Smith, rather earlier than he would have liked.

    While a few of England's bowlers can swing a bat, you'd say the tourists' hopes in this Test may already rest with this pair taking them to a passable first innings total.

    Smith sends his first ball into the leg side, no run there.

  6. Phil Tufnell
    Former England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    Starc is without his mates, he's without his fast bowling partners but he's making up for it.

    You feel that the tailenders won't be able to get too many on this Australian wicket, this partnership is really, really crucial.

  7. Simon Mann
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    Bowled him! It's another one for Mitchell Starc, he's been the man for Australia today, Stokes is out for six.

  8. wicket

    WICKET

    Stokes b Starc 6 (Eng 115-5)

    Ben Stokes is beaten and his bails are flying!

    It's that man Mitchell Starc again, nipping the ball in, feathering the inside edge of the England captain as he looked to drive.

    Stokes ends up staggering slightly, dropping to a knee in the follow-through.

    England in big trouble.

  9. Phil Tufnell
    Former England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    Mitchell Starc has done well considering he hasn't got his mates with him.

    This could be a phase of England trying to wear him down here.

  10. Eng 113-4

    Two more for Brook from the next delivery, turning the ball into the leg side off his pads.

    Now, here comes Mitchell Starc from the other end - he got a wicket in the first over of the opening session, will we see a repeat here?

  11. Phil Tufnell
    Former England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    Harry Brook has sixed him second ball after lunch, skips down the pitch and absolutely wafts it out the park.

  12. 6 runs

    Eng 111-4

    Quintessential Harry Brook.

    He prods at Scott Boland's first delivery, which beats the bat with some good carry, but then lifts the following ball over the cover boundary for the first six of the series.

  13. Phil Tufnell
    Former England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    This partnership is absolutely crucial for England.

  14. Get Involved

    #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)

    Been out playing darts (and losing) tonight, thought I might last the first hour or so. Yet here I am, can of lager in hand, dreading work in 2 hours. Come on England.

    Rich, South Wales

    Have got my manager to agree to let me work from 4:30am this morning. Minimal work being done as I bite my nails through that first session.

    George in London

  15. Time to get back out there - Ben Stokes and Harry Brook are strolling to the middle in sunny Perth.

    England resume on 105-4 with Brook on 28 and Stokes on four - their partnership is worth 11.

  16. Why did England only play one warm-up before Ashes?

    Ask Me Anything

    Ask Me Anything

    Steve Smith and Ben StokesGetty Images

    BBC Sport’s Ask Me Anything team has been answering your cricketing questions for this highly-anticipated Ashes series.

    Our latest is on England’s preparations for the series…

    Why did England only play one warm-up before Ashes?

    England played just one friendly down prior to the start of the 2025-26 Ashes series in Australia.

    That was a three-day game against the England Lions, which Brendon McCullum’s side won by five wickets.

    England coach Brendon McCullum has previously approached away Test series in this manner.

    Read our full explainer here

  17. Get Involved

    #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)

    On a flight from Bangkok to Abu Dhabi at 4,000 feet, suffering from the turbulence created by England wickets falling.

    Ali, somewhere over Asia

    Was excited that a perk of night feeding my baby meant being able to watch the Ashes in the night. Her waking up just in time for the lunch break and us already being four down? Not ideal.

    Alison and Rosie in Glossop

    Expat living in Victoria BC, Canada. Lovely evening spent watching the first session. Except for the four wickets!

    Adrian

  18. Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    I was really impressed with Ollie Pope until he got out. All eyes are going to be on Brook and Stokes, England need a big partnership from them.

  19. Mind you, at this time of night you might be genuinely hallucinating that you are Ben Stokes.

    You'll start wandering back to the middle in ten minutes and find yourself in the middle of the street in your dressing gown, bike helmet on your head and umbrella tucked under your arm.

  20. Quiz: Which Ashes star are you?

    Stokes and SmithGetty Images

    Are you more of a Ben Stokes or a Pat Cummins? Maybe you're similar to Joe Root... or just like Steve Smith?

    Before the action gets under way take our quiz and see which Ashes star you're most like.