Starc takes seven as England rolled for 172 in Ashes opener

A venomous Mitchell Starc took 7-58 as England were sent packing for just 172 on day one of the first Ashes Test against Australia on Friday, leaving them with a mountain to climb.

Batting after captain Ben Stokes won the toss on a fine day at a packed Perth Stadium, the visitors had few answers to the 35-year-old wreaking ball.

His haul came off 12.5 overs with debutant Brendan Doggett chipping in with 2-27.

Harry Brook (52) and Ollie Pope (46) offered the only resistance as England crumbled after lunch.

Starc bagged three wickets in an intimidating opening spell, including Joe Root for a duck, before returning to send Stokes packing in his first over after the break, then mopping up.

All five previous Tests at the venue have been won by the side batting first, but England did their best to challenge that.

They got off to a horror start, rocked in the opening over after Starc was handed the new ball in his 101st Test.

The veteran strike weapon delivered as he has so many times before, enticing a thick edge from Zak Crawley that Usman Khawaja did well to collect down low at slip, the opener gone for nought.

Starc has now taken a wicket in the first over of an innings 24 times.

At the other end Ben Duckett settled his nerves with a textbook drive off Scott Boland to bank the first four of the series and followed it up with another in the same over.

But just as the left-hander was getting going, Starc pounced again, trapping him lbw for 21 to leave England tottering on 33-2.

That brought Root to the crease in his latest campaign for an elusive first century in Australia.

But he only lasted seven balls, edging a seaming delivery into the safe hands of Marnus Labuschagne at third slip.

Pope survived the furnace and was composed before Cameron Green was brought into the attack and he was out lbw, leaving them on 105-4 at lunch.

Brook hit Boland for a six in the first over after the break before Starc again worked his magic, taking out Stokes's stumps with an inswinger when the captain was on six.

A fearless Brook was unperturbed and raced to his 14th Test half-century, off 58 balls, before feathering a short ball to Alex Carey, earning Doggett his maiden Test wicket on debut.

Starc then removed Gus Atkinson (one) with Steve Smith collecting at slip to give him the 17th five-wicket haul of his career.

Doggett and Starc ruthlessly wrapped up the tail with little resistance.

England, who have not won a series in Australia for 15 years, opted for an all-pace attack with spinner Shoaib Bashir missing out.

Starc on fire as England slump to 105-4 at lunch

A venomous Mitchell Starc struck three times during an intimidating opening spell to leave England in trouble on day one of the first Ashes Test against Australia on Friday in Perth.

Batting after captain Ben Stokes won the toss on a fine morning, the visitors stumbled to 105-4 at lunch with Joe Root out for a duck on a lively wicket.

Harry Brook was not-out 28 and Stokes on four in front of a packed Perth Stadium where England's Barmy Army were out in force. Ollie Pope offered some resistance with a plucky 46.

Starc took 3-24 off eight overs as he ably shouldered the extra burden of an attack missing injured long-time partners Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.

All five previous Tests at the venue have been won by the side batting first, but England did their best to challenge that.

They got off to a horror start, rocked in the opening over after Starc was handed the new ball in his 101st Test.

The veteran strike weapon delivered as he has so many times before, enticing a thick edge from Zak Crawley that Usman Khawaja did well to collect down low at slip, the opener gone for nought.

Starc has now taken a wicket in the first over of an innings 24 times.

At the other end, Ben Duckett settled his nerves with a textbook drive off Scott Boland to bank the first four of the series and followed it up with another in the same over.

But just as the left-hander was getting going, Starc pounced again, trapping him lbw for 21 to leave England tottering on 33-2.

That brought Root to the crease in his latest campaign for an elusive first century in Australia.

But he only lasted seven balls, edging a seaming delivery into the safe hands of Marnus Labuschagne at third slip.

Pope survived the furnace and was composed before Cameron Green was brought into the attack and he was out lbw.

England, who have not won a series in Australia for 15 years, opted for an all-pace attack with spinner Shoaib Bashir missing out.

England bat first as Ashes begins

England captain Ben Stokes won the toss and chose to bat against Australia in the first Ashes Test under blue skies in Perth on Friday.

The visitors opted for an all-out pace attack on what is expected to be a fast and bouncy wicket as they begin their quest to win a series in Australia for the first time in 15 years.

Mark Wood was deemed fit and will spearhead the speed assault alongside Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse and Stokes, with spinner Shoaib Bashir left out.

All five previous Tests at the venue have been won by the side batting first.

"We will try and get some runs on the board and see where we go from there," said Stokes.

"It's a lot of hard work, determination, we have got a clear plan of what we want to do in Australia."

Australia named their team on Thursday with Jake Weatherald making his debut as Usman Khawaja's sixth opening partner since David Warner retired last year.

That allowed Marnus Labuschagne to return at his preferred number three, followed by Steve Smith, Travis Head and Cameron Green.

With Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood injured, Brendan Doggett earns his first cap in an attack led by Scott Boland, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon.

"I would have had a bat as well," said Smith, who added: "I think the cracks are going to open up as the match progresses."

Australia: Jake Weatherald, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (capt), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland, Brendan Doggett

England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (capt), Jamie Smith, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood