Ashes 2025-26.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Except he's out.

[sussexpob]

And there goes Boland for a duck... Stokes has 5

Might we see Duckett and Crawley out there tonight?

[Arthur Crabtree]

Crawley to get a pair on the opening day of an Ashes series?

[Red Devil]

What a day of test match cricket! At this rate this could be all over on day 2; and 49 looks like a sizeable lead

[Gingerfinch]

What a day so far. Cannot watch it but looks like some good bowling, coupled with some poor shots

Big up for Ben. Has a habit of doing something when needed

[sussexpob]

Going to be interesting to see if this pitch follows the last one at the venue. Last year's India test had 17 wickets first day, but then flattened out a the end of day 2.

It could favour Australia if they can pick up wickets, it could favour England if they get early partnerships....

Personally, I think that 49 innings lead in the context of conditions today feels terminal. Struggle to see how Australia over turn that batting last, even if they ramp out England for nowt again.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Always felt England wasted Stokes as a bowler under Cook. Used as a part timer when he's obviously a proper bowler. When fit.

[GarlicJam]

Well, that quickly got brainless by England.

and Australia return the favour.

To be fair, England did deserve it, they bowled fantastically - Stokes got more wickets than he deserved, others, like Carse and Archer got less.

[backfootpunch]

Going to be interesting to see if this pitch follows the last one at the venue. Last year's India test had 17 wickets first day, but then flattened out a the end of day 2.

It could favour Australia if they can pick up wickets, it could favour England if they get early partnerships....

Personally, I think that 49 innings lead in the context of conditions today feels terminal. Struggle to see how Australia over turn that batting last, even if they ramp out England for nowt again.

Going to take serious mental strength from the aussies to come back from this.

I thought the series was all but over a few hours ago. I guarantee a few of the aussie players did too.

That new ball spell from archer and atkinson was unbelievably good. Steve smith, the best player of this generation, couldnt lay bat on ball.

[mikesiva]

Is this pitch substandard?

Or have modern day batsmen forgotten how to play on a pace friendly pitch?

Border could teach these guys a thing or two.

[alfie]

Quite a day , eh ? I needed a few hours to clear my head after all that...

Over rates extremely sluggish but doubt many spectators will care after seeing all that action. Amusing how commentators kept saying what a good batting pitch this was : always easier from behind a mike. It wasn't some Green Mamba - but there was enough in it to reward good pace bowling and we saw plenty of that today. Batting looked easier once the ball softened , in both innings ; but neither team could take advantage , with some rather desperate looking shots resulting in apparent gift wickets. Rather suggests the pressure of high pace and bounce was scrambling a lot of minds.

Way to go from here. England will hope to wrap this up quickly tomorrow and bag a modest lead ; but really all depends on whether they have learnt enough from today to make a go of their second innings. Will not want to have another short and fast knock that sees their bowlers back out there without decent rest time.

Starc was terrific , and Doggett not bad ; but Boland really seemed more like the fellow who got clattered all over England in 2023 than his usual home persona. England shared the load rather more , confirming my belief that they have a bowling attack that could win back The Ashes. The big question remains : whether they they have the batsmen to do so ...

[Durhamfootman]

got to go to work now, which is a bit of a shame. I'll be hoping that Australia are not still 5 down when I return

9... fair play to them

doesn't feel as though this match is going to last long

[andy]

What a fightback from stokes and the bowling attack! They bowled with good pace hostility and made the ball talk! Be surprised if we get tgeough 3 full days here...Australia could easily be batting by tea

[backfootpunch]

What a fightback from stokes and the bowling attack! They bowled with good pace hostility and made the ball talk! Be surprised if we get tgeough 3 full days here...Australia could easily be batting by tea

If australia arent batting by tea england will be in a very strong position

[sussexpob]

If australia arent batting by tea england will be in a very strong position

Judging on today, that would only be 20 overs...