Ashes 2025-26: England in danger of first Test defeat after another collapse in Perth

England looked to have recovered from losing Zak Crawley for a duck to the fifth ball of their second innings. Crawley completed only the fourth pair by an England opener in Ashes Tests when he was caught and bowled by a diving Starc.

Crawley has been dismissed twice in 11 balls in the Test after being out in the first over of the first day.

A stand of 65 between Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope was moving England into a match-winning position, only for the lunch break to signal carnage.

Boland was poor in the first innings, but first discomforted Duckett with a blow to the back elbow then drew the left-hander into a poke to second slip.

In Boland’s following over, England fell apart in a whir of loose drives. Pope chased a wide one and, three balls later, Harry Brook played an awful waft to edge to first slip.

The following over, bowled by Starc, delivered the prized wicket. Joe Root, England’s best player, was another guilty of a big drive, inside-edging on to his stumps for eight.

England captain Ben Stokes survived five overs with Jamie Smith before Stokes edged to second slip to give Starc his 10th.

Smith, already put down without scoring by Usman Khawaja at first slip, was adjudged to have gloved Brendon Doggett down the leg side after a lengthy review.