Ashes 2025: Michael Vaughan hails England’s pace attack after day one in Perth

England’s average bowling speed of 87.6mph was the fastest on record and they combined pace with skill.

In the first 25 of their innings, Australia suffered errant shots in over 40% of the shots they faced.

Since such data was collected (2006), this is the fifth highest percentage of errant deliveries suffered in the first 25 overs of an innings by any bowling team in Test cricket.

Stokes then took over with a five-wicket haul from just 36 balls – becoming England’s fifth-fastest bowler to take five wickets in an innings.

“There was some great bowling, some movement and upright bounce on this Perth pitch,” Vaughan added.

“You need bowlers to get you out of trouble and all five fast bowlers were bowling with skill, pace and were scary.

“You can hurt a team very early in a series. England had some good tactics and tactical maneuvers to execute in the second innings and beyond.

“When England were 160-5 I thought of going and getting 250 because I have seen enough cricket here to know that 250 is a good score in the first innings.

“This pitch may flatten out a bit and cracks may appear, but it is not a par 350.”