PERTH — Ben Stokes and Australia have plenty of history. Well, on a manic, head-scratching opening day of this Ashes series that saw 19 wickets fall, England’s captain wrote himself another glorious chapter with a bowling performance that sucker-punched the hosts.
It is 12 years since Stokes announced himself to the world with his maiden Test century at the Waca, just across the Swan River from Optus Stadium here in Perth.
Back then he was the sole ray of sunshine amidst the darkness of a 5-0 Ashes beasting.
There has been little joy in Australia for England’s talisman, in Tests at least, since. But this time, it feels like his efforts might just have a significantly more positive impact on his team’s chances.
Things would have been even better for England had they not collapsed earlier on a madcap first day, the Bazballers out for 172 in just 32.5 overs after a career-best 7 for 58 from left-arm quick Mitchell Starc.
Ben Stokes gets his first wicket of the Ashes! Watch #TheAshes LIVE on TNT Sports and discovery+ pic.twitter.com/p3vHODSSJc
— Cricket on TNT Sports (@cricketontnt) November 21, 2025At that point, the existential dread that often comes Ashes tours in Australia descended upon the estimated 10,000 travelling fans inside the stadium and the many more who had stayed up through the night watching on TV at home.
But the relentless ferocity of England’s five-pronged pace attack proved too much for the Aussies, with Stokes providing the coup de grace after Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Brydon Carse and Gus Atkinson had already roughed up the rattled hosts.
Delaying his entrance until the 28th over of Australia’s innings, when they were already 69 for 4, the all-rounder struck with his seventh delivery to oust the dangerous Travis Head.
Cameron Green followed in his next over before a burst of three wickets in seven balls removed Starc, Alex Carey and Scott Boland to seal Stokes’s third five-wicket haul in Ashes contests.
His last? Way back at Trent Bridge in 2015, when his second-innings 6 for 36 was forgotten given it came in the wake of Stuart Broad’s ridiculous haul of 8 for 15 on the first morning.
That was the game that sealed England’s last Ashes series win a decade ago. It is a huge ask for them to break that barren run this winter in Australia.
But if Stokes carries on as he has started – and crucially stays fit – the Bazballers will have every chance of becoming just the third England team in the past 100 years to regain the urn down under.
BEN STOKES HAS HIS FIVE-FER! Watch #TheAshes LIVE on TNT Sports and discovery+ pic.twitter.com/GH06Yb8FNQ
— Cricket on TNT Sports (@cricketontnt) November 21, 2025Having taken a six-wicket haul during last week’s warm-up match against England Lions at Lilac Hill, Stokes had never looked more up for a series than he did here.
And after being ruthlessly bowled by Starc shortly after lunch for six, a dismissal that started his team’s batting collapse, it almost felt inevitable he would have a major say with the ball on this opening day.
The 34-year-old had returned to his absolute best with the ball during last summer’s enthralling series against India, when he took 17 wickets before missing the final Test with a torn shoulder.
“Never in doubt,” came the reply when asked if he was ever worried about his chances of making this series.
You can see why, with Stokes looking physically fitter than he has done in years and more determined than ever to create yet more Ashes history.
Australia will forever be scarred by his exploits during their past two tours of England, when Stokes’s interventions, especially his stunning century at Headingley in 2019, ensured they were held to 2-2 series draws each time.
This time feels slightly different, like perhaps a man who has so often taken the weight of the world on his shoulders might be given a bit more assistance on this trip.
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The way the frontline pace quartet operated before Stokes’s entrance shocked Australia. Archer, Wood and Carse were bowling consistently above 90 miles per hour. Every batter was receiving plenty of blows too as they struggled to cope with the pace barrage on a bouncy and rapid Perth pitch.
Steve Smith was struck multiple times, notably twice in as many balls – on the elbow and hand – by Archer immediately after lunch. Green then wore a 92mph thunderbolt by Wood straight on the helmet later in the evening as England’s relentless attack never allowed the home batters to settle.
Like the great West Indies teams of the 1970s and 80s, there was no respite for Australia’s batters. And after they had weathered the storm of Archer, Wood, Carse and Atkinson, they were hit by the force of nature that is Stokes.
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