The Ashes 25/26

[The Dark Knight]

Stokes is the first English captain to take a five wicket haul in Aus since Bob Willis in 1982.

19 wickets falling today is the most on the opening day of an Ashes test since 1909.

[pmackk]

Very disappointing batting performance some of the shot selections awful.

[stampy]

is it too early to say i think we are farrrrrked?

[dedja]

Yes, premature.

[The Dark Knight]

Starc stats- https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/ashe ... le-1512119

7 for 58- Mitchell Starc recorded his best figures in Test cricket, topping his previous best of 6 for 9 in Australia's previous Test, against West Indies in Kingston in July 2025, making it back-to-back five-wicket hauls for him.

It was the 17th five-wicket haul in Tests for Starc, the third-highest for Australia among fast bowlers, pipping Graham McKenzie's tally of 16.

Starc also completed 100 Ashes wickets against England in the process. Among the 11 fast bowlers with more than 100 wickets in Tests against England, he is the only one to have made his debut in the 21st century.

10- Number of times Starc has dismissed Ben Stokes in Test cricket, the most by any seamer. R Ashwin is the only one to have dismissed Stokes more times in Test cricket (13).

Starc has also bowled Stokes five times in Tests, the most for any bowler.

0 for 1 - This was the first time both England and Australia lost their first wicket without a run on the board in the first innings of an Ashes Test.

Overall, it was only the eighth such instance in Test cricket.

6 - Number of times England have been 0 for 1 in the first innings of an opening Ashes Test in Australia. Three of these instances have come in their last five tours - 2010-11, 2021-22 and this time. They were 2 for 1 in their first innings of the 2017-18 tour.

[daysofourlives]

Can’t believe the amount of people that were saying Trav would come good for the Ashes. He has been woeful for months now

Too much drinking his own bath water, cant take the South Gawler out of the boy

[daysofourlives]

Not enough has been made of Khawahja not opening the batting. Not even half way through day 1 of a 5 test series and he's off for some pathetic excuse. He actually hasnt been interested in playing cricket since he went to the Grand Prix, he's just there to collect the pay cheque, the decision should have been taken out of his hands but George is too chummy with the players. Seriously, fancy letting a debutant have to face the 1st ball. Apparently Weatherald hasnt taken 1st ball for over 20 innings. He wouldve talked to Khawaja all week about them opening together, gets to his 1st innings and Khawajas not there because hes a lazy prick. Not to mention Webster gets dropped to accommodate 2 specialist openers since Labashaugne isnt an opener yet he bats there anyway. No coincidence all 4 batsman involved in the Khawaja cluster **** failed miserably. I think it goes close to him being dropped because of it, you cant put up with that crap from your most senior batsman.
Cricket actually needs to put a stop to players leaving the field, its meant to be a Test, a Test of everything. If you cant spend half a day in the field without coming off you shouldn't be selected. You dont get away with it at any level but Test or 1st class, why are these princesses so special?

It certainly hasnt been a Test for any of the bowlers so far.
Dogget should get the new rock in the 2nd dig, Boland is a change bowler at best.
Glad we played Lyon. With these two batting line ups, not sure anyone needs to play a spinner and apparently 75 overs is enough in a day so no need for a spinner to get through some overs.

[Jim05]

From the Age:

“CA insists it is a new injury, despite Khawaja missing Australia’s optional training session on match eve, before recording 41 stableford points to take out the Lake Karrinyup Country Club’s Thursday golf competition. “


Just staggering

[Lightning McQueen]

Not enough has been made of Khawahja not opening the batting. Not even half way through day 1 of a 5 test series and he's off for some pathetic excuse. He actually hasnt been interested in playing cricket since he went to the Grand Prix, he's just there to collect the pay cheque, the decision should have been taken out of his hands but George is too chummy with the players. Seriously, fancy letting a debutant have to face the 1st ball. Apparently Weatherald hasnt taken 1st ball for over 20 innings. He wouldve talked to Khawaja all week about them opening together, gets to his 1st innings and Khawajas not there because hes a lazy prick. Not to mention Webster gets dropped to accommodate 2 specialist openers since Labashaugne isnt an opener yet he bats there anyway. No coincidence all 4 batsman involved in the Khawaja cluster **** failed miserably. I think it goes close to him being dropped because of it, you cant put up with that crap from your most senior batsman.
Cricket actually needs to put a stop to players leaving the field, its meant to be a Test, a Test of everything. If you cant spend half a day in the field without coming off you shouldn't be selected. You dont get away with it at any level but Test or 1st class, why are these princesses so special?

It certainly hasnt been a Test for any of the bowlers so far.
Dogget should get the new rock in the 2nd dig, Boland is a change bowler at best.
Glad we played Lyon. With these two batting line ups, not sure anyone needs to play a spinner and apparently 75 overs is enough in a day so no need for a spinner to get through some overs.

I keep hearing Usman out but who opens in his absence?

We know the problems, we don’t have the solutions though.

Of course “back spasms” one day one rings alarm bells at his age.

[amber_fluid]

Why not bring Konstas back in and give him a red hot go at it
Better than changing the batting order if Marnus was to open

Uzzie has done a great job but he’s done
Move on from him

[RB]

I keep hearing Usman out but who opens in his absence?

At this rate I'd take just about any other Shield opener.

[Lightning McQueen]

Why not bring Konstas back in and give him a red hot go at it
Better than changing the batting order if Marnus was to open

Uzzie has done a great job but he’s done
Move on from him

Konstas wouldn’t have lasted any longer than Weathers with Jofra bowling to him

[am Bays]

Renshaw would be first cab based on his current shield form, then Kelleway from Victoria

[Lightning McQueen]

I keep hearing Usman out but who opens in his absence?

At this rate I'd take just about any other Shield opener.

Usman did endorse Renshaw

[mal]

Renshaw would be first cab based on his current shield form, then Kelleway from Victoria

Both had better hope they are not picked
The Pommie attack is dynamite

Of the 2 maybe Renshaw
Kelleway suspect to the short ball and would get a diet of it from the Pommies

[Armchair expert]

Of everyone in the Australian side, opening the batting with the fate of the world on the line — the Martians have a death beam pointed at Earth — you need someone to survive and score… I want Lehmann. That’s right, and I know how it sounds. And it’s not fair to Khawaja because so much pressure and attention falls on him. And I’m not saying Khawaja’s not the more talented opener — he absolutely is. But Lehmann? Lehmann’s got ice in his veins

[gadj1976]

Please... someone... get to Armchair quickly, his tin foil hat has fallen off.

[stampy]

if the poms are still batting at stumps they will be 400 in front and will win easily, ffs...

[amber_fluid]

Why not bring Konstas back in and give him a red hot go at it
Better than changing the batting order if Marnus was to open

Uzzie has done a great job but he’s done
Move on from him

Konstas wouldn’t have lasted any longer than Weathers with Jofra bowling to him

He would have at least used his bat

[mal]

The worry for me is that EG are dictating in this match
With the bat they attacked and set the toine
With the ball they dominated our aging fragile line up

I look at this game and think who is gunna turn the momentum
STARc Head Smith- they all need to take the Pommies on or we will be 0-1 down in the series

Geez they missed Pat Cummins alllround talents yesterday