Ashes 2025-26: England in danger of first Test defeat after another collapse in Perth
England looked to have bounced back after losing Zak Crawley for a duck in the fifth ball of the second innings. Crawley completed only the fourth double by an England opener in the Ashes Tests when he was caught and bowled by a diving Starc.
Crawley was dismissed twice in 11 balls in the Test after being dismissed in the first over of the first day.
A score of 65 between Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope put England in position to win the match, but it signaled carnage on the lunch break.
Boland was poor in the first innings, but first troubled Duckett with a strike to his back elbow, then forced the left-hander to second slip.
After Boland, England fell apart in a rambling move. Pope chased a wide ball and three balls later, Harry Brook hit a wretched end-to-end strike to first slip.
The following player, whom Starc bowled, surrendered the prize wicket. England’s best batsman, Joe Root, was also guilty of a big drive and advanced inside for the eighth over.
After England captain Ben Stokes survived Jamie Smith for five, Stokes moved to second slip to give Starc his 10th over.
After a long examination, it was decided that Smith, who was brought down by Usman Khawaja without scoring a point in the first shot, put a glove on Brendon Doggett’s leg.
On a fast, bouncing pitch that now showed signs of erratic bounce, England continued to attack and the Atkinson-Carse attack dispersed the Australian fielders.
Atkinson pulled Starc into the stands twice. Carse got on top of Doggett and struck Boland in the head.
Carse tried to catch Doggett and fell behind for 20, Jofra Archer caught behind Doggett and Atkinson’s fun ended on 37 when he hit Boland’s fine leg.
Australian opener Khawaja is again unlikely to open after spending more time outside the field.
The left-hander was out again on Saturday afternoon after diving towards Smith’s strike towards Starc, which went over his head. Off-spinner Nathan Lyon, who is almost a spectator in a game dominated by speed, is also struggling with a hip problem.
