Superb England tear into Australia in Ashes opener

First Ashes Test, Perth (day one of five)

England 172: Brook 52, Pope 46; Starc 7-58

Australia 123-9: Stokes 5-23, Archer 2-11, Carse 2-45

England lead by 49 runs

Scorecard

Captain Ben Stokes took five wickets as England's fast bowlers sensationally tore into Australia on an electrifying opening day of the Ashes.

In a captivating slugfest on a fast and bouncy pitchin Perth, England were bundled out for 172, only to reduce Australia to 123-9.

The ferocious action lived up to the hype of the most anticipated Ashes series in recent memory.

Surprisingly batting first on winning the toss, England 'Bazballed' their way into trouble. Zak Crawley was out for a duck from the sixth ball of the series to Mitchell Starc, who was irrepressible in taking 7-58.

Harry Brook swiped 52 and Ollie Pope batted nicely for 46, but England lost their last five wickets for 12 runs to be bowled out in 32.5 overs - the shortest first innings of an Ashes Test in this country for 123 years.

The tourists' five-man pace attack responded with the fastest display of bowling by an England team since such data was first collected 18 years ago.

Jofra Archer was magnificent and deserved more than two wickets. Any time there was a lull, England had a fresh paceman to turn to. Brydon Carse removed Australia captain and Monty Panesar's nemesis Steve Smith.

Stokes used himself as the fifth bowler, firstly snuffing out any suggestion of an Australia fightback then running through the long tail. Playing for the first time since suffering a shoulder injury in July, the skipper claimed his second five-wicket haul in as many Tests.

At the end of a breathless and unforgettable day, 19 wickets have fallen, England lead by 49 and have a golden opportunity to go 1-0 up.

After the expectation, speculation and trash talk, cricket's oldest rivalry once again delivered. This was an Ashes opening day for the ages.

England have not come close to winning an away Ashes for 14 years. At the end of Friday, Australia would have been left in no doubt they are in a contest this time around.

The spicy pitch played its part, as did the cacophonous atmosphere created by 51,531 inside the colossal Perth Stadium. But what will live long in the memory is the speed, hostility and quality of bowling from both teams.

Stokes looked to history with his decision at the toss - all of the five previous Tests at this ground have been won by the team batting first. For as bad England were with the bat, they were equally as good with the ball.

This match has echoes of the previous Test on this ground, when 17 wickets fell on day one. Twelve months ago, India were bowled out for 150, only to then burst through Australia for 104. India went on to win by 295 runs.

England's bowlers have dragged them into this match; now the batters must play their part on day two. Stokes' team are one strong batting innings away from a 1-0 lead.

For so long, England have lacked the pace to compete in this country. The culmination of a plan to bring heavy artillery down under resulted in this awesome and relentless assault on the Australia batting.

Mark Wood returned after 15 months out to play a Test alongside Archer for only the second time. Stokes is fully fit. Gus Atkinson and Carse could be the workhorses of the tour.

Archer set the tone in an opening three-over burst that averaged more than 90mph. The ball that pinned Weatherald lbw knocked the left-hander off his feet.

Marnus Labuschagne and Smith had to shuffle up the order because regular opener Usman Khawaja spent time off the field during England's innings. The second-wicket pair were tortured by England's hostility, taking blows, playing and missing.

Archer returned to have Labuschagne play on. Carse took over. Smith, booed to the crease by the travelling fans, edged to second slip, then Khawaja gloved a spiteful lifter.

Travis Head and Cameron Green threatened a counter-attack and Green should have been held in his follow-through by Atkinson.

But Stokes was irresistible in his first Test in Perth since making his maiden century at the Waca as a 22-year-old 12 years ago. Head and Mitchell Starc were caught on the leg side; Green and Scott Boland edged behind, Alex Carey guided to third man.

Ashes tours have seldom seen the best of Stokes. This was a statement of intent as he bids to join the few England captains who have left this country with the urn.

Four years ago, Starc bowled Rory Burns with the first ball of the Ashes series. Two years ago in England, Crawley hit the first ball for four. This time, Starc waited until the end of the first over to give the Ashes its lift-off, dragging Crawley into a needless edge to first slip.

Starc was required to step up in the absence of injured captain Pat Cummins and fellow pace bowler Josh Hazlewood, and responded with career-best figures.

He was helped by England's recklessness. Any suggestion of a refined version of Bazball was abandoned. Only Joe Root, who edged to third slip for a duck, can feel like he was got out.

Ben Duckett played across the line to be lbw, Stokes left a huge gap between bat and pad to be bowled. When Starc returned to mop up the lower-order, Jamie Smith and Mark Wood were bounced out either side of Gus Atkinson tamely poking an edge.

Just four England batters reached double figures. Pope looked assured for his highest Ashes score, then horribly misjudged Green to be lbw trying to play into the leg side.

Brook's innings was astonishing, with more time spent running towards the bowlers than standing still.

A slap over extra cover for six was part of some disdainful treatment of Scott Boland, who conceded 62 from his 10 overs. When Brook innocuously gloved a short ball to give Brendan Doggett his first Test wicket, it began England's final slide of five wickets in 19 balls.