England had a rough start in the first test of the 2025 Ashes series against Australia. Ben Stokes’ team chose to bat after winning the toss on a pitch seemingly favorable for batting. However, the Aussies, led by Mitchell Starc, dominated England’s batting lineup. Zak Crawley was out for zero runs after facing only six deliveries, while Joe Root failed to score yet another century. England was eventually bowled out for 172, with Jofra Archer making an impactful start by getting a debutant, Jake Weatherald, out lbw.

Mitchell Starc shined in the match, showcasing an excellent performance reminiscent of Terry Alderman’s outstanding start in the 1981 Ashes. Starc took crucial wickets, including dismissing key players like Ben Duckett and Joe Root. His exceptional bowling led to England’s collapse, with Starc finishing with impressive figures of 7-58.

Despite some resistance from Ollie Pope and Harry Brook, England’s batting display was lackluster overall. Pope managed to score 46 runs before being dismissed lbw by Cameron Green. Brook added some vitality to the innings with a six but eventually fell for 52, signaling the downfall of England’s lower order.

England faces an uphill battle after Australia’s strong bowling display. Jofra Archer made an early breakthrough by dismissing Weatherald, setting a positive tone for England. Off the field, tensions brewed as the Barmy Army taunted Australian captain Steve Smith with reminders of the 2018 ball-tampering scandal.

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