Summary

  • First Test, day two, Perth

  • Australia win by eight wickets to take 1-0 lead in five-match series

  • Head hits amazing 123 off 83 balls to lead hosts to astonishing win

  • England collapse from 65-1 to 164 all out in second innings to set only 205 for victory

  • Controversy around dismissal of England's Smith

  • Player ratings

  • Highlights available from 17:00 GMT on BBC iPlayer

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Live Reporting

by Timothy Abraham & Mike Peter

  1. Eng 26-1

    Another three for England, with Ollie Pope sending Scott Boland's opening delivery out through mid-wicket.

    Reaching the ropes at this stadium without really giving it some welly is proving quite the challenge.

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    Those castigating Zak Crawley should refrain judgement until the END of the Series. He remains a potential “game changer” & I, for one, believe in his talents…

    Lawrence Po-Ba, London

    To all of the critics of Crawley: He’s not in the side for his consistency. He’s in the side because he can score a match-winning ton at the MCG to go 3-1 up and win us the Ashes. I might be from Kent so a bit biased but I say stick with Zak!

    Adrian

  3. Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    The first 20 overs with a Kookaburra ball on this surface is not easy.

  4. Eng 21-1

    Three more runs off Mitchell Starc's third over.

    This pair ticking over steadily at the minute.

  5. How's stat?!

    Andy Zaltzman
    Test Match Special statistician

    For the first time in Test cricket, teams have been 0-1 in the first over of the first three innings of a match.

  6. Srinivas Vijaykumar
    CricViz analyst

    English openers dismissed for a duck in both innings of an Ashes Test:

    • Trevor Bailey in 1959, Melbourne
    • Dennis Amiss in 1975, Adelaide
    • Michael Atherton in 1998, Melbourne
    • Zak Crawley in 2025, Perth

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    #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or via text to 81111 (UK only - texts charged at standard message rate)

    We can all argue whether Crawley deserves his place as an opener in this side, but can anyone explain to me why he continues not only to open, but to be the first to face? In terms of confidence, surely having some runs on the board, or at least a look at the conditions, before having to face can only be a positive. I get it in the first innings, there's recent history there. In the second, however? At a certain point, the man is being set up to fail.

    Lewis, Glasgow

  8. Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    The scoreboard is always ticking. Australia will know that they need to get them out quickly.

  9. Eng 18-1

    Ollie Pope works Scott Boland square, running a three as the ball is collected in the depths of the big outfield at Perth.

    Ben Duckett adds two with a shot past gully, then goes for a big drive and ends up skewing the ball over backward point for four.

    A bit heart in mouth, that.

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    Agreed - Zak Crawley is unfortunately a liability, a few sumptous innings do not cut the mustard in amongst the dismal dismissals.

    Nick Halsall, Cumbria

    I understand the idea of Duckett and Crawley being such opposites that it's difficult to bowl at, but it's redundant if Crawley's never there for longer than 20 minutes.

    Luke, South London

  11. Jim Maxwell
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    There is that hint of swing from Mitchell Starc this morning. When that happens at his pace, you start getting nicks.

  12. Eng 9-1

    Edged for four!

    Ben Duckett's shot finds the gap between the slips and gully and heads to the ropes.

    He picks up two more from the following delivery, driving Mitchell Starc into the covers.

  13. Here's the Mitchell Starc catch that accounted for Zak Crawley.

    A superb take.

  14. Eng 2-1

    Scott Boland draws an edge from Ben Duckett, but the ball drops well short of substitute Beau Webster at third slip.

    The England opener then gets his side off the mark with a single to mid-wicket and then, having returned to the strike via a leg-bye, chops Boland's delivery straight down attempting a bit of a charge.

    The ball loops up and drops down clear of the stumps.

  15. Srinivas Vijaykumar
    CricViz analyst

    In all six Tests, including this one, at Perth Stadium, the side batting first has had a first-innings lead:

    • Australia: 42 runs lead v India, 2018
    • Australia: 250 runs lead v New Zealand, 2019
    • Australia: 315 runs lead v West Indies, 2022
    • Australia: 216 runs lead v Pakistan, 2023
    • India: 46 runs lead v Australia, 2024
    • England: 40 runs lead v Australia, this Test

    In the five previous Tests, the side batting first went on to win.

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    Can everyone please finally agree on this. Zak Crawley is NOT good enough to be an international opener.

    Matthew Chapman, Cornwall

    Unfortunately sticking with Crawley when they absolutely shouldn’t have because of Australian pitches has proven to be the wrong decision.

    Chris

  17. How's stat?!

    Andy Zaltzman
    Test Match Special statistician

    There have only been four opening English batsmen who have been out for a pair in an Ashes series, the last being Michael Atherton at the MCG in 1998.

  18. Eng 0-1

    Ollie Pope arrives at the crease in the first over once again.

    Mitchell Starc fires one down the leg side, Pope chases it but doesn't connect.

    A wicket maiden for Starc.

  19. Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    This is absolute brilliance form Mitchell Starc, that's a remarkable catch. He's stretched so far to his left. It was that wobble seam that's gone slightly left.

  20. Jim Maxwell
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    A brilliant caught and bowled by Mitchell Starc!