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- AUS vs ENG Live Score, 1st Ashes Test Day 2: Australia bowled out for 132 as England seize 40-run lead
AUS vs ENG Live Score, 1st Ashes Test Day 2: Australia bowled out for 132 as England seize 40-run lead
The contest, played in intense heat and in front of a vocal crowd, swung dramatically after England began day two with a narrow advantage. Their position looked comfortable at 65 for 1, but the afternoon session brought a collapse that altered the match entirely. Scott Boland rediscovered rhythm and accuracy, removing Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope and Harry Brook in a rapid burst. Mitchell Starc, who had already taken a career-best 7-58 on the opening day, added Joe Root and Ben Stokes to complete a ten-wicket haul.
A lower-order partnership between Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse pushed England to 164, setting Australia a target of 205. But the chase quickly became one-sided. With Usman Khawaja still managing back stiffness, Head was sent in to open and immediately seized control of the innings. He hammered England’s attack, clearing the infield with ease, striking multiple sixes and racing to a half-century in 36 balls. His eventual 69-ball hundred — one of the highlights of the match — carried Australia to within touching distance of victory.
Head reflected on the whirlwind outcome, saying: “Wow, what a couple of days. It’s been unbelievable… To be able to contribute the way I did, it feels pretty special.” Stokes acknowledged the damage, admitting England were left “a little bit shell-shocked” by the swing in play and Head’s scoring rate.
Debutant Jake Weatherald added a brisk 23 before falling to a miscued pull, leaving Head and Marnus Labuschagne to continue the chase. Even after Head departed for 123, the result was only a formality. Labuschagne’s calm 51* and Steve Smith’s brief stay sealed the eight-wicket win.
The match’s brevity, shaped by fast scoring and equally fast collapses, set the tone for what promises to be an intense series.
Gus Atkinson to Marnus Labuschagne, Nicely bowled! Goes wider on the crease again and angles in a length ball towards off stump, but gets it to straighten off the deck as well. Labuschagne gets squared up and beaten past the outside edge.
Gus Atkinson to Marnus Labuschagne, A bit fuller and closer to the off pole, angled in from wider on the crease. Labuschagne makes another well-watched leave.
Gus Atkinson to Marnus Labuschagne, On a good length and in the channel outside off, going straight on, Labuschagne shoulders arms and oets it through.
Gus Atkinson to Marnus Labuschagne, Pitches the ball full and at the stumps, Labuschagne opts to stay back in his crease and blocks it on the bounce to the deepish short leg fielder.
- Steve Smith 0 (10)
- Marnus Labuschagne 0 (6)
Jofra Archer to Steve Smith, Good length again and around off, this one darts back in a touch at 148.7 kph. Smith looks to play at it, but is beaten and gets hit high on the pads. Archer looks in excellent rhythm early on.
Jofra Archer to Steve Smith, Good-length delivery in the channel, angling in a bit, left alone by SS.
Jofra Archer to Steve Smith, On a good length and just over the leg pole, Smith moves to the off side and lets it through. That wasn't far away from the stumps, but Smith trusted the bounce.
Jofra Archer to Steve Smith, Oh, that is loose from Steve Smith. Length ball, well outside off and seaming further away, Smith almost falls over as he goes chasing after it and looks to hit it hard through the off side but almost nicks it behind.
Jofra Archer to Steve Smith, Goes a bit fuller and bowls it outside off at over 144 kph, gets it to seam away a touch, Smith gets across and shoulders arms at it.
Jofra Archer to Steve Smith, Bowled on a hard length at 143.5 kph, but this is spilled down the leg side and Smith just leaves it alone.
- Marnus Labuschagne 0 (6)
- Steve Smith 0 (4)
Gus Atkinson to Marnus Labuschagne, Nice and full again, on off stump, Labuschagne gets bat to ball this time and keeps it out. Atkinson begins with a maiden as well.
Gus Atkinson to Marnus Labuschagne, That is unplayable! Wobble seam from Atkinson, pitching it full on off and gets it to nip way sharply at around 141 clicks. Labuschagne looks to block on the front foot but is beaten all ends up.
Gus Atkinson to Marnus Labuschagne, On a hard length and outside of, Labuschagne leaves it alone.
Gus Atkinson to Marnus Labuschagne, Goes a bit wider on the crease and angles it in full from outside off, getting it to leave the right-hander. Labuschagne is drawn forward and gets beaten past the outside edge.
Gus Atkinson to Marnus Labuschagne, The pitch seems to have just quickened up a bit. Hits the good length at over 141 kph and bowls it around the top of off, Labuschagne makes a steely leave based on length.
Gus Atkinson to Marnus Labuschagne, Begins with a full-length ball at 139.6 clicks but serves it wide outside off. Marnus Labuschagne lets it through to the keeper.
Gus Atkinson is all set to operate from the other end.
- Steve Smith 0 (4)
- Marnus Labuschagne 0 (0)
Jofra Archer to Steve Smith, A wicket maiden to start from Jofra Archer. Fuller and well outside off, swings in a bit and late as well. Steve Smith extends his arms to drive but gets beaten on the inside edge.
Jofra Archer to Steve Smith, Hard length again, on off stump, Smith watches it well and pats it down into the off side.
Jofra Archer to Steve Smith, A brute of a delivery from Archer! On a hard length and on off, Steve Smith gets across to the off side a touch to cover the line and block but the ball straightens off the deck and goes agonizingly past the outside edge.
Jofra Archer to Steve Smith, A wild delivery from Archer this time around. This banged in on a hard length and darted well down the leg side. Jamie Smith does well to spring to his left and pouch it safely.
Steve Smith is in at number 3. High drama at Perth as the English fans and the Barmy Army have found their voices.
Jofra Archer to Jake Weatherald, OUT! LBW! A snorter of a yorker to follow up from Jofra Archer and there's an appeal for LBW but the umpire turns it down. Ben Stokes has a chat with his team and opts for an early review. This could be interesting. This is bowled relatively full and around leg stump, swings as well. Jake Weatherald is just beaten by the pace off the deck and falls over as he looks to flick and gets pinged on the front pad. The third umpire is called in and there's clearly no bat involved. Ball Tracking shows it would have pitched in line and would have gone on to hit middle stump. What a start to Australia's innings. Weatherald departs for a disappointing two-ball duck on Test debut.
Jofra Archer to Jake Weatherald, Oh, a beauty to start with from Archer. Serves it on a good length and on off, this one hits the deck and seams away with additional bounce. Jake Weatherald has a bit of a poke at it but is well beaten.
Australia’s reply began under challenging circumstances, with Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse removing early wickets to reduce the hosts to 31-4. A 45-run stand between Travis Head and Cameron Green briefly steadied the innings, but Ben Stokes took over, claiming five wickets for 23 runs to swing the first-innings advantage back to England. By stumps, Australia were 123-9, still trailing by 49 runs.
The day also marked a historic milestone as Brendan Doggett made his Test debut alongside Scott Boland, the first time two Indigenous Australian men played in the same Test. With 19 wickets falling in 72 overs, the opening day set the tone for a gripping four-day contest, blending high skill, raw pace, and historic moments in a truly chaotic start to the series.
Match Statistics
Venue
Perth Stadium, Perth
