In the first Ashes Test, Australia secured a brilliant victory within only two days. Keeping England under pressure in both innings, Australia won the match by eight wickets. With this win, they took a 1–0 lead in the five-match series.

Everything wrapped up by the second day of the match at Optus Stadium. In the first innings, England were bowled out for 172. Mitchell Starc shone with outstanding bowling. He destroyed the English batting lineup by taking 7 wickets in just 12.5 overs. Opener Ben Duckett scored 21 and Ollie Pope made 46, but the others failed to contribute. Harry Brook’s 52-run innings also couldn’t take the team very far.

In reply, the Australian batting also collapsed. England captain Ben Stokes halted the Aussies at 132 runs by picking up 5 wickets in just 6 overs. Alex Carey scored 26 and Cameron Green made 24. Brydon Carse took 3 wickets, while Jofra Archer claimed 2.

England were shaky again in the second innings. Their innings ended at 164 runs, with Scott Boland taking 4 wickets and Doggett taking 3. Besides Gus Atkinson’s 37 and Ollie Pope’s 33, there were no significant contributions. Starc once again picked up 3 wickets.

Chasing a target of only 205, Australia faced no pressure. Travis Head launched an assault from the very beginning. He played a stunning innings of 123 off just 83 balls, turning the match completely one-sided. Marnus Labuschagne played a calm 51-run knock and remained unbeaten till the end. Australia wrapped up the chase at 205/2 in 28.2 overs and walked off the field with the match firmly in their pocket.

Mitchell Starc was named Player of the Match. His bowling figures across the two innings were 7/58 and 3/55.

With the Test ending in just two days, England have already faced heavy criticism. After the match, Stokes admitted that he was “shocked” by such a performance. Meanwhile, Australia look confident ahead of the second Test.