Ben Stokes ran riot with the ball to disrupt Australia's batting line-up on Day 1 of the Ashes 2025-26 opener in Perth on November 21. In doing so, Stokes became the first England captain in 43 years to take a five-wicket haul in an Ashes series. He broke Australia's back with a sensational spell of 6-1-23-5.
Ben Stokes turns first England captain to take a fifer in Ashes since 1982
This exceptional bowling display has put the visitors in a commanding position in the series opener and ranks among one of the best bowling performances of his career.
Having now registered his sixth five-for in the longest format of the game, Stokes is also on the verge of making English cricket history. He is close to surpassing the legendary Gubby Allen for the best bowling figures ever recorded by an England skipper in an Ashes series. Allen's record of 6-0-36-5 was set way back in 1936.
England bowlers with a 5-wicket haul in the Ashes:
Ben Stokes – 6-1-23-5, 2025, Perth
Bob Willis – 29.4-66-5, 1982, Brisbane
Freddie Brown – 18-4-49-5, 1951, Melbourne
Gubby Allen – 6-0-36-5, 1936, Brisbane
Johnny Douglas – 17.5-6-46-5, 1912, Melbourne
Stanley Jackson – 14.5-2-52-5, 1905, Nottingham
Stokes achieved his five-wicket haul by dismissing Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc, and Scott Boland, securing his sixth five-for in Test cricket. Earlier in the innings, Jofra Archer did the initial damage for England, removing debutant Jake Weatherland on the very second ball and later taking the crucial wicket of Marnus Labuschagne in the 15th over. Brydon Carse contributed by dismissing both Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja before Stokes took over, leading to Australia's collapse to 9/123.
Australia in a state of bother
In response, Mitchell Starc was the standout performer for Australia with the ball, taking a remarkable seven-wicket haul as the hosts dismissed the visitors for 172. The left-arm pacer's victims included Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Jamie Smith, Gus Atkinson, and Mark Wood. For England, only Harry Brook and Ollie Pope managed to breach the 40-run mark; Brook smashed 52 off 61 balls, while Pope hit 46 off 58 deliveries. Notably, Australia are playing the series opener without their regular captain Pat Cummins and lead pacer Josh Hazlewood.