Summary

Live Reporting

by Mike Peter

  1. Jonathan Agnew
    BBC Chief Cricket Commentator on Test Match Special

    It's been a familiar start from England.

  2. Eng 77-3

    Two added to England's tally - the first a front-foot no-ball, the second a dicey single. Harry Brook set off, was turned back, dived to safety, and then ran through after the ball missed the stumps.

    Mitchell Starc stretches out his left leg after taking a tumbling stop in the field.

  3. Stephan Shemilt
    BBC Sport chief cricket reporter in Perth

    This is curious. Australia have taken three wickets on the first morning of an Ashes series, but only have two slips and a gully. There were four men out for Brook after he had faced just 10 deliveries. Why have the Aussies retreated?

  4. Glenn McGrath
    Ex-Australia bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    I don't think that we'll see 90 overs played on any of the days, even with the extra half an hour.

  5. Eng 75-3

    Three singles and a leg bye. Brendan Doggett has started brightly with the ball, mixing his lengths nicely.

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    Brook starts his innings like someone on 150 at an exhibition match.

    Anon

  7. Glenn McGrath
    Ex-Australia bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    The length that Scott Boland has bowled at this morning has surprised me.

  8. Eng 71-3

    Harry Brook is a little infuriating to watch, swinging wildly or dancing across his stumps one minute and driving smartly down the ground the next.

  9. Glenn McGrath
    Ex-Australia bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    The outfield is very slow but it's a good cricket wicket. There's pace, there's carry, it's coming along nicely.

  10. Eng 66-3

    Ollie Pope locates a speedy patch of the outfield and picks up four through mid-on.

    Two deliveries later, he cuts through point but has to run three again as the ball slows up a couple of feet from the rope.

    If anyone would like to map it out, we've learned in the past two overs that the grass around mid-on is quick while the grass at mid-off and deep backward point is slow.

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    Re: Phil from London (@ 3.23am) - I think you absolutely can criticise Crawley. Driving at a back of a length ball was a poor decision and one he’s made time and time again.

    Nick, Wiltshire.

  12. Glenn McGrath
    Ex-Australia bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    Ollie Pope is coming along nicely here.

  13. Eng 59-3

    Ollie Pope drives Scott Boland down the ground and gets three. I think that's the fourth three England have run this morning.

    I ran exactly one three during my (terrible) cricket career. Think my partner nearly lapped me.

  14. How's stat?!

    Andy Zaltzman
    Test Match Special statistician

    Mitchell Starc's opening spell is the best start to an Ashes since Terry Alderman in 1981, who went 4-68 in a spell of 24 overs.

  15. Eng 56-3

    "Brilliant start from England, obviously," says colleague Mike Peter upon entering the office. You'll be hearing more from him later today.

    Harry Brook gets his first boundary of the day, sending Brendan Doggett up and over point for four.

    Scott Boland has changed ends.

  16. How's stat?!

    Srinivas Vijaykumar
    Cricviz analyst

    Every delivery from Mitchell Starc against Joe Root was wide of the stumps except for the wicket ball, which was on the stump line.

    Beehive graph showing Mitchell Starc's deliveries to Joe RootGetty Images

  17. Exceptional is the word, Phil. He's been electric in the opening hour.

    Here are two of Mitchell Starc's three wickets.

    Khawaja takes catch at first slip to dismiss Crawley for a duck in first over

    Starc dismisses Duckett lbw for 21 as another early England wicket falls

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    I don’t think you can criticise the English batters too much. It’s been exceptional bowling from Starc.

    Phil, London

  19. Glenn McGrath
    Ex-Australia bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    Mitchell Starc has been excellent. I think Australia should've put in Doggett instead of Boland though.

  20. Eng 50-3

    Pope 22, Brook 3

    Good grief - what on earth was that from Harry Brook?!? He absolutely charges down to Mitchell Starc, all three stumps exposed, and miscues him into the off side for three.

    He's off the mark but I'm not sure it's the time or place for that.

    Ollie Pope uppercuts for four to finish the over and bring up England's 50.