Image source, Getty Images

• Does Dawid Malan deserve a knighthood?
• Are Malan and Bairstow the sweetest partnership since Tate and Lyle?
• Is Mark Stoneman’s autobiography going to be entitled ‘Glove’s off?’?
• How much of a pain is Tim Paine?
• Was swapping Bairstow and Moeen around the greatest trick since David Copperfield walked through The Great Wall of China (it really happened!)?

Get involved using #bbccricket and/or text 81111 (UK only).

Image source, Getty Images

Cheers Tom. Merry Birthday.

Here's the first day recap (makes for pleasant reading, England fans):

• Root wins toss, opts to bat first
• Alastair Cook again goes for single figures (7). Hmmm…
• Mark Stoneman overcomes Newcastle’s umpteenth defeat to make a half-ton…
• …but he’s shown the finger after a review decides he gloved a Mitchell Starc delivery to Tim Paine (who caught three behind the stumps).
• However, England recover from 131-4 to 305-4 at the close of play thanks to Dawid Malan’s heroic 110* (that’s more than 100 runs!) and Bairstow’s 75*.
• Surely they can’t can they? I mean, score more than 400?

A round-up, reaction, your reaction and lots of poor attempts at humour coming up.

Image source, Getty Images

*Australia will probably score 500.

**England have not won in Perth since 1978.

***England have never beaten or drawn with Australia from 2-0 down.

When Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins had Mark Stoneman dancing to a dangerous tune at lunchtime it looked like being another tricky day for England.

But Dawid Malan and Jonny Bairstow batted brilliantly to put England into a very good position.

With that, I'm off for a nap - here's Saj Chowdhury - who like me celebrated his birthday yesterday - to guide you through the next few hours of reaction.

Durren: Showing some passion and class and about time too... Woke up expecting an all out for a pitiful tally... Replacement for Cook needed though.

George Davis: Test matches are rarely won on the first day but we've all seen them too easily lost! Bring on day two.

Simon Hughes
BBC Test Match Special commentator

If England get 550, that's like a bit of extra pace with the bowling. That's what they need.

Will

Australia wicketkeeper Tim Paine on BT Sport: "The wicket is really good so we can take confidence out of that but credit to the two of them, they played really well. The pitch has pace in it but it's a good track.

"We are confident that if we can take two quick wickets we have seen what we can do to their bottom four. "

Simon Hughes
BBC Test Match Special commentator

You do worry about England's bowlers on this pitch. The dismissals - Cook and Vince were done by pace, Root was a bit unlucky and Stoneman was definitely suckered by quick, bouncy pace. None of the England bowlers have got that combination. You get in on here, it's quite difficult to get you out.

Philip Dantès: He dealt with the short bowl, made the most of a good quick pitch, and cashed in. A fine knock from Malan.

Paul Cotterill: Apart from all the times I've ranted on that the Eng team is utterly rubbish and spineless, I've never for one second doubted that the they would show real grit and flair.

Oh, Paul.

Simon Hughes
BBC Test Match Special commentator

Jonny Bairstow was excellent today. He played so straight. I don't understand why England haven't had him at six throughout this series. It's been a flaw in the way they decided to organise this team. He proved today they have to have him in the top six. He's been bristling with intent. England have needed a bit of presence at the crease, and both of them have had that.

Ebony Rainford-Brent
Ex-England batter on BBC Test Match Special

This lead can easily be frittered away. In Brisbane, England were in a similar position but quite quickly, they collapsed. The new ball has been really important in this series. It's still quite hard and if England come out tomorrow, try and reset and lose a quick wicket, then Australia will be in to the tail quite quickly.

I think Bairstow has been brilliant for England but his technique allows him to get out there and counter-punch.

Image source, EPA

More from Dawid Malan on TMS: "It was nice to finish this one and still be four down and give us a chance to get a big score and put them under pressure tomorrow.

"We're 2-0 down. It has been tough. We've been under the pump for things that you wouldn't normally be under the pump for. The only way you get rid of these headlines is to win games of cricket, and we've put ourselves in a good position. We need to be right on it tomorrow."

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

England will be disappointed if they don't get 425-plus. This is the best batting wicket of the series so far and the outfield is rapid. You get rewarded for every stroke you play, and it's difficult to set fields to.

If they don't, Australia will be delighted, because the ball hasn't done a great deal. Josh Hazlewood was the pick. You can't afford to switch off mentally against this Australia side.

England's Dawid Malan on being dropped on 92: "When I nicked it, I was like, 'Oh no, I've throw away my chance'. But luckily it was my day."

On facing Australia's fast bowlers on a quick surface: "I quite enjoy it - I'd much rather face that than someone bowling 80mph trying to find my edge or pad. It is intimidating but it's good fun. It's what you get up for, it gets your heart racing - that's Test cricket."

Ed Smith
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

Image source, PA

Alastair Cook didn't play awfully. But when you're out of form, you don't quite trust yourself. In Malan's Test career to date, he hasn't really trusted himself to strike the ball. Today, instead of just surviving, he trusted himself to make that shot. That was the difference today. If he continues to play like that, he could be a very valuable number five.

Christie Walker: Fantastic to see that, with Root and Cook somewhat out of nick, that players like Malan and Stoneman are finally standing up to be counted (but preparing for 350 all out tomorrow).

Chris Friend: Preparing for a carol service with the theme of the ‘best Christmas present ever’ and now have inspiration from England!

Oliver: Best day of the series for England so far, let's hope we can push on tomorrow. The pessimist in me, however, suggests a morning collapse and the Aussies will be in before lunch.

England's Dawid Malan, who made 110 not out, on TMS: "I didn't really know what to do when I hit that shot. It was pretty emotional. I almost wanted to cry. I was trying to keep the tears in.

"I didn't think I'd get one. This time I didn't think I'd play for England, so to get a hundred in the Ashes at the Waca... It's not every day you score a hundred for your country."

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