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Live Reporting

by Mike Peter & Elizabeth Botcherby

  1. How's stat?!

    Andy Zaltzman
    Test Match Special statistician

    That last wicket makes 17 wickets taken today which is the joint most wickets taken on the first day of an Ashes Test since 1909.

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

    The captain delivers again for England. He didn't really get any meat to the ball, he sort of skewed it to mid-on. A nice little partnership was building there but Stokes shuts it down.

    There's not a lot of confidence in the rest of the Aussie batters, England just need a few more.

  3. Simon Mann
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    Would you believe it, Stokes has done it again. England got the wicket that they were desperate for before close of play. What an incredible day it's been

  4. wicket

    WICKET

    Starc c Carse b Stokes 12 (Aus 118-7)

    Last ball of the over this time!

    Mitchell Starc goes to club Ben Stokes over mid-on, but doesn't get enough on his shot and sends the ball straight to Brydon Carse.

    Nathan Lyon is coming out at nine for Australia, the start of a lengthy tail for Australia.

    Lyon averages 12.79 in Tests. Brydon Carse, England's nine, averages 23.45.

  5. Srinivas Vijaykumar
    CricViz analyst

    Ben Stokes has been exceptional in his first spell in Tests this year. He's taken 10 wickets at 19.8 average and 36.8 strike rate when he's introduced himself in the first spell in 2025, the best average and strike rate in a calendar year for Stokes across his Test career.

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

    It's been absolutely breathless. Every ball has felt like there's been something to it. It would be handy if Australia nick a few before close.

    We've been waiting for this Ashes series a long time. If they're all like this, we're in for an absolute cracker.

  7. Aus 112-6

    Well timed.

    Brydon Carse's final delivery is too fully and Alex Carey works it away through mid-off for four.

    Earlier in the over, Carse was bowling with a huge bug desperately hanging onto his collar as he ran up to the wicket.

    And after Carey's shot I imagine he has a chip on his shoulder.

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    Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust. If Archer, Carse, Atkinson or Wood don’t get you, Stokesy must.

    Tattz in Harborne

  9. Glenn McGrath
    Ex-Australia bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    Australia need Carey to buckle up here or they'll be very far behind.

  10. Jonathan Agnew
    BBC Chief Cricket Commentator on Test Match Special

    Australia are just nibbling away at this.

  11. Aus 104-6

    Mitchell Starc picks up three, pushing into the deep at cover off Ben Stokes.

    We've got a little under half an hour to go, with 66.5 overs bowled in the day.

  12. Glenn McGrath
    Ex-Australia bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    The Australians have faced one more delivery than England did yet they are 72 behind.

  13. Jonathan Agnew
    BBC Chief Cricket Commentator on Test Match Special

    That's a classic case of lower order batsmen anticipating the short ball and hanging back. Starc just lofted the ball. It was actually very cunningly bowled by Brydon Carse.

  14. Aus 100-6

    Oooof, just looping over Jofra Archer.

    Mitchell Starc pushes at Brydon Carse's delivery with hard hands and sees the ball fly over a leaping Archer at mid-off.

    He takes two, and a couple of deliveries later Alex Carey brings up Australia's hundred with a powerful driven four to Archer's right.

  15. Aus 91-6

    Not far away!

    Having been brought onto strike via a single from new batter Mitchell Starc, Alex Carey gloves down the leg side.

    Jamie Smith makes some good ground with his dive, but can't quite get a glove on it with the ball going for four.

  16. Glenn McGrath
    Ex-Australia bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    It's been an ordinary shot selection from Australia here. What a delivery from Ben Stokes.

  17. Jonathan Agnew
    BBC Chief Cricket Commentator on Test Match Special

    Stokes strikes again! He's taken his second wicket and he's only in his third over. A bit of a loose drive from Green, we said he was going to pitch it up, he went for a drive but simply nicked it through to the keeper.

  18. wicket

    WICKET

    Green c Smith b Stokes 24 (Aus 83-6)

    Ben Stokes is in the action again!

    For the second over in a row, he takes a wicket with his first delivery.

    It's Cameron Green heading to the dressing rooms this time, with the all-rounder edging behind to Jamie Smith.

    England are back on top after a period of Australian consolidation.

  19. Aus 83-5

    Woops.

    Brydon Carse tumbles over in his follow-through and Alex Carey's defensive push strikes the England bowler in the back.

    No harm done, with Carey holding out a hand in apology.

  20. Glenn McGrath
    Ex-Australia bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    England's scoring rate was a lot higher and you wonder what impact that is going to have on this game.