Australia v England: Ashes first Test, day two – live

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If you missed the remarkable day one of the first Test, or just want to relive what was the highest of drama, Ali Martin reported on all the action from Perth Stadium.

Not since Old Trafford in 1909, when 20 batters were sent packing, have more wickets fallen on the first day of an Ashes Test. There were 19 here, a fast-bowling festival, and those England supporters back home who woke up midway through could have been forgiven for feeling a bit played.

An initial collapse to 172 all out in 32.5 overs by the tourists must have been like discovering a horse’s head in the bed, reason to once again bemoan the excesses of so-called Bazball. But Ben Stokes (five for 23) and his ­fellow quicks then delivered a far more instructive message, reducing Australia to 123 for nine by stumps and inflicting a good few bruises to go with it.

Preamble

Have we all got our breath back? That was an absolutely nonsense, absurd, bizarre opening day: 19 wickets in a Test day in Australia that only contained about 70 overs. Can nobody remember how to bat anymore? Was the pitch too difficult? The answer is no, not really, because some players do still bat for long periods of time elsewhere, and the surface had some pace and bounce but nothing inconsistent or unplayable. It’s just that nobody played it well, against some decent fast bowling.

So we’re almost 50% of the way through the match in scoreboard terms, in 20% of the allotted days and 16.4% of the allotted overs. Holy balance sheet, Robin.

Australia trail by 49 runs! After bowling out England for 172! The last pair will resume, but we’re not imagining that Lyon and Doggett will add a lot with the bat. Then, it will be Shootout No.2.

Don’t look away from the match today, there may not be much left of it by tomorrow.