Australia crumble in shambolic fashion as 19 wickets fall on chaotic first day of series
England lost their last five wickets in 19 balls. Smith appeared to urgently signal for Khawaja to return to the field, but when he did so he had not spent enough time on the field to play his usual role. CA said before the match that he was not injured.
Moody harshly described the mess on ABC radio as “mismanagement” and “more than a joke”.
Jofra Archer dismisses Jake Weatherald with just the second ball of Australia’s innings.Credit: Getty Images
“We needed Uzzie to lead the batting, just like Starc leads the attack,” he said.
Archer and Carse reignited England’s Ashes campaign after their disastrous first innings, while Weatherald became the first Australian top-order batsman since Labuschagne to record a duck in his first Test innings.
Khawaja’s confusion preceded a major batting collapse that would raise questions about Australia’s preparations and ability to withstand the barrage of pace from England’s pacers.
Mitchell Starc picked up where he left off with a torrid opening spell in the West Indies that dented England’s confidence until a late flurry of wickets lifted morale.
Brydon Carse celebrates Usman Khawaja’s goal.Credit: Getty Images
With Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood sidelined, Starc took on the responsibility of leading Australia’s attack and brought up his 100th Ashes wicket during a devastating haul of 7-58 from 12.5 overs.
After winning the toss, England could only last 32.5 overs before being bowled out for 172; this was the fewest overs faced by an England team after electing to bat first in a Test in Australia.
It was a day of ducks: Zak Crawley, Joe Root, Mark Wood and Weatherald were dismissed without scoring as Australia reached 1-15 at tea.
Despite weeks of debate over who should partner Khawaja at the top, Labuschagne and Smith were together in the third over of the innings.
Mitchell Starc took a career-best seven wickets in England’s first innings.Credit: Getty Images
Weatherald became the first Australian to make a duck in his first Test innings since Labuschagne, who made his debut against Pakistan in Dubai in 2018. Travis Head also fell in love with a duck during that match. Other well-known Australians to have done so this century include Nic Maddinson (2016), Phillip Hughes (2008) and Andrew Symonds (2004).
After the pre-game shadow batting, Weatherald bowled his first ball and missed, then Archer bowled him in the next over; A review showing that the ball will hit midfield and leg.
Labuschagne was bowled by Archer for nine, Smith edged Harry Brook at second slip for 17 from Carse and Khawaja’s poor Test run continued when he fell behind for two. The 38-year-old has scored over 90 in his last 45 Test innings.
Green scored 24 points but fell behind Stokes as Australia lost 5-45 later in the day.
But Starc bowled with pace and precision, taking the first three wickets off Crawley (duck), Ben Duckett (21) and Root (duck).
His dismissal of Root – bowling from stump before correcting one to find an edge – was a clinical set-up that removed England’s danger man for a seven-ball duck and extended a century drought on Australian soil.
Harry Brook (52 off 61) and Ollie Pope (46 off 58) batted back but were unable to strike as wickets rolled around them.
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Debutant Brendan Doggett took Brook’s key wicket behind Alex Carey and finished with an encouraging 2-27 from seven overs.
Scott Boland struggled and fell back to 0-62 from 10 overs after the bowling was too full, while Cameron Green ended a 55-run stand by trapping Pope lbw, leaving England staggering at 4-94.
England’s fearless Bazballers played with promised courage, but they collapsed in a heap – losing 5-12 – giving Australia a crucial early advantage without their front-line fast bowlers.
But it wasn’t to the level of Australia blowing itself up, which makes a three-day Test a distinct possibility and the series remains on a knife edge after just 71.5 overs of drama.
