The China Mail - Australia set 205 to win Ashes opener after England collapse

The tourists were cruising at 65-1 and building a ominous second innings lead, but Boland and Starc left them shell-shocked with four wickets in as many overs after lunch.

A ruthless Boland accounted for Ben Duckett (28), Ollie Pope (33) and Harry Brook (0) in the space of 11 balls, then two deliveries later Starc sent Joe Root packing for eight.

When Starc removed Ben Stokes (2), England were flailing at 88-6 and the veteran paceman had bagged a 10-wicket haul for only the third time after his first innings 7-58, a career-best.

They were rescued by a crucial 50-run stand between Gus Atkinson (37) and Brydon Carse (20) before being rolled for 164 on the cusp of tea.

Boland ended with 4-33 and Starc 3-55.

An explosive opening day of searing pace saw an astonishing 19 wickets tumble.

Australia resumed on a paltry 123-9 and added just nine runs before Nathan Lyon was removed by Carse for four to leave England with a 40-run advantage.

Stokes was the star of the show, claiming 5-23 off just 36 balls to give England a golden opportunity to win a Test in Australia for the first time since the 2010-11 series.

It culminated an amazing comeback after they were all out for 172 at the hands of Starc.

Australia were banking on the 35-year-old to emulate his exploits in the second innings and he whipped the sold-out Perth Stadium crowd into a frenzy when he removed Zak Crawley in his first over.

The veteran consigned Crawley to a pair, diving to his left in an incredible feat of athleticism for a memorable caught-and-bowled. He has now taken a wicket in the opening over of a Test 25 times.

Duckett and Pope settled in, exploiting some uncharacteristically loose bowling from Boland in particular, safely reaching lunch at 59-1.

But Boland began to find his radar and some much-needed swing when they returned.

Duckett edged to Steve Smith in the slips then Pope did the same to wicketkeeper Alex Carey before Brook repeated the feat to Khawaja.

Root appeared to hurt his left ankle while playing football in a warm-up session before the game got under way, but confidently strode out at four.

After a first innings duck he was desperate for runs as he hunts an elusive first Test century in Australia.

But he was no match for the relentless Starc, dragging a thick edge onto his stumps to cap his miserable start to the series.

Brendan Doggett then stepped up with the wickets of Jamie Smith, (15), Carse and Jofra Archer (5).

X.So--ThChM