There are moments in sport that transcend the scoreboard. On Day 1 of the first Ashes Test in Perth, Ben Stokes delivered one of them. With ball in hand and fire in his eyes, the England captain ripped through Australia’s batting order to claim a stunning five-wicket haul—etching his name into an elite ledger of English cricketing legends .
In a match already historic for its record-breaking 19 wickets, Stokes didn’t just participate—he dominated. His leadership, grit, and raw skill turned a shaky start into a commanding position for England, who ended the day with Australia reeling at 123/9, trailing by 49 runs .
Table of Contents
- Stokes’ Day 1 Masterclass
- The Elite Club Ben Stokes Just Joined
- How England Turned the Tide
- The Perth Pitch and Conditions That Fueled Chaos
- What This Means for Stokes’ Captaincy Legacy
- Conclusion: Leader, Bowler, Legend
- Sources
Stokes’ Day 1 Masterclass
England’s innings began shakily after being sent in, but half-centuries from Harry Brook (67) and Ollie Pope (58) lifted them to a respectable 172 all out . It wasn’t a mountain, but on a Perth pitch offering seam and bounce, it was enough—if the bowlers delivered.
And deliver they did. Spearheaded by Ben Stokes, England’s pace attack hunted in packs. Stokes’ spell was surgical: he bowled with relentless accuracy, angling the ball in from around the wicket and exploiting the variable bounce. His figures? 5 for 35 in 12.3 overs—his best as captain and one of the finest by any England skipper in Ashes history .
He didn’t just take wickets—he broke partnerships. Key scalps included Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, and Travis Head—Australia’s core batting trio—all dismissed thanks to Stokes’ tactical nous and brute force.
The Elite Club Ben Stokes Just Joined
With this five-wicket haul, Stokes became only the third England captain in 143 years of Ashes cricket to claim a five-for on the opening day of a Test against Australia .
He joins an illustrious duo:
- Doug Insole – Achieved the feat in 1958 at Old Trafford.
- Joe Root – Took 5/8 in the 2021-22 Ashes series in Brisbane (though England lost that match heavily).
What sets Stokes apart is context. Unlike Root’s 2021 effort, which came in a losing cause, Stokes’ heroics have put England in a genuine position to win—a rarity in recent Ashes contests on Australian soil .
How England Turned the Tide
After posting just 172, many expected Australia to seize control. Instead, England’s bowlers executed a near-perfect plan:
- Targeted the stumps and hard lengths to counter Australia’s aggressive openers.
- Used the overcast Perth conditions to generate lateral movement—Stokes and Mark Wood consistently hit the seam.
- Applied relentless pressure with close-in fielders, forcing errors from a rattled Aussie middle order.
The result? Australia collapsed from 54/1 to 123/9. Only Alex Carey (41*) offered resistance, highlighting how comprehensively England’s attack outplayed their hosts.
The Perth Pitch and Conditions That Fueled Chaos
Optus Stadium’s pitch played a starring role. Unlike its usual true-bounce character, the surface had extra grass and moisture, creating ideal conditions for seam movement—a rarity in Australian Tests .
Former England captain Michael Vaughan noted on air: “This pitch is behaving more like Headingley than Perth. Stokes couldn’t have asked for a better ally.”
With cloud cover holding all day, the ball swung late and kept low unpredictably—perfect for Stokes’ wristy action and Wood’s steep bounce.
What This Means for Stokes’ Captaincy Legacy
Since taking over as England Test captain in 2022, Stokes has championed “Bazball”—an aggressive, fearless brand of cricket. Critics called it reckless, especially in Ashes contests. But Day 1 in Perth was the ultimate vindication.
He didn’t just talk about leading from the front—he did it. By taking five wickets after his batters posted a modest total, Stokes embodied the very ethos he preaches: win or lose, but never back down.
This performance cements his status not just as a leader, but as a match-winner in the toughest rivalry in cricket.
Conclusion: Leader, Bowler, Legend
Ben Stokes’ Day 1 heroics in Perth are more than a statistical milestone—they’re a statement. In a series where England has often been outgunned, outplayed, and outclassed on Australian soil, Stokes has flipped the script.
By joining an elite list of England captains with a five-wicket haul on Ashes Day 1, he’s not just making history—he’s redefining what it means to lead England in the modern era. And the urn? It just got a lot closer.