The opening Ashes Test in Perth has delivered two days of intense swings. England were bowled out for 172 before Mitchell Starc’s seven-wicket burst put Australia on top, only for Ben Stokes to respond with a five-wicket spell that restricted the hosts to 132.
England couldn’t extend their narrow lead and folded for 164 in their second innings, allowing Australia to control the chase and finish at 205/2 to seal an eight-wicket win and a 1-0 series lead.
Before moving to Brisbane for the 2nd Test, England will first play a 2-day warm-up match against the Prime Ministers XI at Manuka Oval on November 29, giving them a crucial chance to regroup after the Perth defeat.
Australia vs England Ashes 1st Test – Match Highlights (Perth)
The opening Test of the Ashes 2025–26 ended with a commanding eight-wicket win for Australia in Perth. England’s call to bat first backfired as Mitchell Starc tore through the top and middle order with a sensational seven-wicket burst, limiting them to 172 despite resistance from Harry Brook and Ollie Pope.
Australia also stumbled early in reply, with Ben Stokes delivering a brilliant five-wicket spell to bowl them out for 132. England couldn’t build on that advantage, collapsing for 164 in their second innings as Boland, Starc, and Doggett maintained relentless pressure.
Needing 164, Australia dominated the chase. Travis Head’s explosive 123 off 83 balls sealed the momentum, while Labuschagne supported calmly to guide the hosts to 205/2 and a 1-0 lead in the series.
Top Performers – Match
| Top Performer | Team | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Mitchell Starc | Australia | 7/58 & 3/55 (10 wickets in match) |
| Travis Head | Australia | 123 (83) in 2nd innings |
| Ben Stokes | England | 5/23 in 1st innings |
| Harry Brook | England | 52 (61) in 1st innings |
| Gus Atkinson | England | 37 (32) in 2nd innings |
When & Where Is The Ashes 2025-26?
The series runs from November 21 through January 4, 2026, across five Test matches in Australia’s summer.
| Date | Match | Time (Local) | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 21, 2025 | 1st Test | 10:30 AM | Perth Stadium, Perth | Australia won by 8 wickets |
| Nov 29, 2025 | 2-Day Warm-Up | 2:40 PM | Manuka Oval, Canberra | Yet to Start |
| Dec 4, 2025 | 2nd Test | 2:00 PM | The Gabba, Brisbane | Yet to Start |
| Dec 17, 2025 | 3rd Test | 10:30 AM | Adelaide Oval, Adelaide | Yet to Start |
| Dec 26, 2025 | 4th Test | 11:00 AM | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne | Yet to Start |
| Jan 4, 2026 | 5th Test | 11:00 AM | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney | Yet to Start |
Perth hosts the opener at Optus Stadium before moving to Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney for the remaining fixtures. Each Test stretches five days, with the schedule spanning two months of continuous cricket that will define both teams’ summer campaigns.
The Ashes 2025-26 2nd Test Weather Report
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Temperature | Around 28°C, warm and dry weather |
| Weather | Mostly sunny, full 5-day play expected |
| Precipitation | Low chance (10–15%), minimal risk of stoppages |
| Humidity | Roughly 55%, comfortable for players |
| Wind | Light breeze 12–15 km/h, slight help for swing early |
The weather in Brisbane for the 2nd Test at The Gabba is expected to stay warm, dry, and mostly sunny across all five days. Temperatures will hover around 28°C, creating ideal playing conditions with minimal chance of interruptions.
Humidity will be moderate at around 55%, ensuring comfortable conditions for players. Only a slight 10–15 percent chance of rain is forecast, meaning delays are unlikely. A gentle breeze of 12–15 km/h may offer early assistance to swing bowlers.
Pitch Report For The Ashes 2025-26 2nd Test Match
The Gabba remains one of world cricket’s toughest Test venues, especially for touring sides. The surface traditionally offers lively seam movement early on, backed by steep, consistent bounce that challenges batters throughout the first two days.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Behaviour | Early seam movement with steep, consistent bounce |
| Batting Assistance | Easier from Day 2 onward; rewarding for set batters |
| Bowling Assistance | Ideal for fast bowlers; new ball grip and carry throughout |
| Dimensions | Standard Australian ground; straight boundaries longer than square |
| Historic Avg 1st Inns | Traditionally high due to Gabba’s strong batting phases after the first hour |
| Toss Preference | Teams prefer batting first to avoid chasing on a cracking Day 4–5 surface |
As the match progresses, the pitch becomes flatter, rewarding patient stroke play, but the cracks that open up later can bring variable bounce back into play.
Fast bowlers enjoy The Gabba more than any other Australian venue because the pitch doesn’t just swing — it carries. Good-length balls climb awkwardly, making defence tricky for anyone not fully committed to forward or back movement.
Batters who get through the early exchanges can score freely, but the new ball remains the most decisive factor in this Test.
For England, who come from slower pitches with lateral seam movement, The Gabba’s true bounce and pace demand decisive footwork. Anything half-hearted gets exposed quickly, and the new ball spells often decide the tone of the Test.
Winning & Toss Odds For The Ashes 2025-26
Australia entered as overwhelming favourites to extend their home dominance, yet injury absences have shifted the market considerably.
The hosts have won the last three Ashes at home decisively, establishing an apparently unbreakable home record, though losing both Cummins and Hazlewood for Perth undermines their fast-bowling depth.
| Bookmaker | Australia Win | England Win | Draw |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sportsbet (AU) | 1.73 | 2.35 | 11.50 |
| Ladbrokes (AU) | 1.70 | 2.37 | 10.50 |
| bet365 (AU) | 1.72 | 2.33 | — |
| Unibet Australia | 1.68 | 2.30 | — |
| Neds (AU) | 1.70 | 2.35 | — |
Australia remains favourite at $1.68 to $1.73 across major bookmakers, while England sits at $10.50 to $12.00 despite their recent Test resurgence.
The draw is similarly priced at around $11.50, reflecting how bookmakers view this as a two-horse race where Australia’s home advantage outweighs their squad concerns.
Odds shift rapidly as match day approaches and injury news emerges, so monitor updates closely before placing any wager on the opener.
Past Results Of The Ashes: England vs Australia
England last won an Ashes series in Australia during 2010-11 when Alastair Cook and their pace bowlers dominated proceedings.
Since that victory, Australia has claimed three consecutive home series by widening margins, winning 5-0 in 2013-14, then 4-0 in 2017-18, another 4-0 demolition in 2021-22, and drawing only 2-2 in 2023 when England mounted a comeback after losing the first two matches.
| Series | 1st Test | 2nd Test | 3rd Test | 4th Test | 5th Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 | AUS by 9 wkts | AUS by 275 runs | AUS by inns/14 runs | Draw | AUS by 146 runs |
| 2017-18 | AUS by 10 wkts | AUS by 120 runs | AUS by inns/41 runs | Draw | AUS by inns/123 runs |
| 2013-14 | AUS by 381 runs | AUS by 218 runs | AUS by 150 runs | AUS by 8 wkts | AUS by 281 runs |
| 2010-11 | Draw | ENG by inns/71 runs | AUS by 267 runs | ENG by inns/157 runs | ENG by inns/83 runs |
England’s sole respite came through that 2023 draw, yet their overall Australian record since 2010-11 remains unforgiving and suggests structural weaknesses remain unresolved despite their recent Test resurgence.
Players To Watch In The Ashes 2025-26
These six players will shape Perth’s outcome through their form, availability, and tactical importance to their respective teams.
1. Cameron Green provides Australia with a hybrid threat as a hard-hitting batsman and seam-bowling option on surfaces suiting his strengths.
His ability to change match momentum through explosive batting makes him dangerous in Perth’s conditions, where pace can be exploited. England must account for both his batting aggression and potential bowling versatility.
2. Travis Head averages over 50 against England and has scored multiple centuries in recent campaigns. He thrives on quick pitches where aggressive batting pays dividends, and Perth’s pace suits his attacking intent perfectly.
England’s bowlers must contain him early or watch him build large totals through attacking cricket.
3. Mitchell Starc carries enormous responsibility as Australia’s leading pace bowler. His left-arm swing and wobble-seam deliveries suit Perth’s conditions perfectly, and he remains genuinely dangerous despite reaching his mid-thirties.
4. Ben Stokes leads England as captain with confirmed fitness and will play at Perth. The big question is whether his body can last five Tests in seven weeks after his best summer with the ball ended in injury.
His captaincy has revitalised English Test cricket through aggressive intent, balancing his role as both frontline quick and number six batter with previous against Australia.
5. Harry Brook emerged as England’s dynamic vice-captain and hit 111 in their recent India series. His aggressive approach fits England’s playing philosophy perfectly, though Perth’s short-pitched bowling may test his technical soundness.
6. Mark Wood arrives fit and ready after recovering from knee surgery in March and being selected despite missing England’s summer Tests. His express pace gives England a genuine fast-bowling weapon on Perth’s quick surface, where pace bowlers profit significantly.
Pat Cummins will miss at least the first Test with a back injury, so Steve Smith will deputise as skipper in Perth. Josh Hazlewood faces a hamstring strain, ruling him out for the series opener and forcing Michael Neser to provide cover as backup.
Sean Abbott will also miss Perth due to a hamstring injury. Chris Woakes was omitted from England’s Ashes squad after his shoulder problems, with his retirement meaning Gus Atkinson will likely move to number eight.
These absences fundamentally reshape both teams’ tactical approaches and create opportunities for whoever adjusts first.
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Conclusion: Australia Take the Lead, but the Ashes Are Far From Over
Australia’s dominant win in Perth has given them a strong early hold on the Ashes, but the series is far from settled. Their pace attack, led by Mitchell Starc’s ten-wicket match haul and Travis Head’s explosive second-innings hundred, showed why they remain one of the toughest sides to beat at home.
England, though heavily outplayed, still found positives. Ben Stokes’ five-wicket burst and Ollie Pope’s and Harry Brook’s counterattacking spells proved that this team can compete if they avoid batting collapses. The challenge now is consistency — something England have struggled with in Australia for years.
With the next Test at The Gabba, historically another fortress for Australia, England must adapt quickly to the pace and bounce to prevent the series from slipping away early. The momentum is with Australia, but one strong performance from England can reset the contest and keep the Ashes alive heading into the longer stretch of the tour.
FAQs
Root’s extraordinary 2025 form makes an Australian century inevitable this series, according to most experts, with Perth’s pace potentially suiting his evolved technique better than slower pitches previously challenged him on.
England’s attacking approach has revolutionised their Test cricket, though Perth demands respect for quality pace bowling and may punish reckless aggression if batters overextend themselves against Starc and Boland.
Losing both primary fast bowlers simultaneously represents a significant handicap that forces Mitchell Starc to shoulder an enormous workload while Scott Boland must deliver consistency from limited recent opportunities.
Usman Khawaja faces difficulty at age 39 against short-pitched bowling on quick surfaces, while younger players like Sam Konstas lack experience managing international-quality express pace bowling consistently.
Winning Perth would shift betting markets dramatically and provide psychological momentum that historically improves touring team confidence for subsequent venues, potentially reshaping the entire five-match contest fundamentally.
