England and Australia share 19 wickets on pulsating first day of the Ashes

Starc finished with figures of 7-58 as England were bowled out for just 172 but as England skipper Stokes then took 5-23 to have Australia on the ropes on 123-9 at the close of a pulsating opening day.

In absence of captain Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, the home side needed their senior fast bowler to step up and Starc answered the call impressively.

The left-arm paceman had gave the hosts the perfect start when he had Zac Crawley caught in the slips in the first over of the game.

England were content to keep pushing with their attacking style but lost wickets at regular intervals.

Harry Brook struck 52 while Ollie Pope scored 46 but it procession of wickets that kept the visitors from getting a sizeable total as they bowled out for before the tea interval.

Australia were forced to promote Marnus Labuschagne to open the batting alongside debutant Jake Weatherald as Usman Khawaja was off the field with an injury.

It was not a happy debut for Weatherald though as Jofra Archer trapped the left-handed batter lbw on the review with the second ball of the innings.

England went into the game with an all-out pace attack, leaving spinner Shoaib Bashir on the sidelines.

The decision paid handsome dividends as Brydon Carse got the big wickets of Steve Smith and Khawaja in the middle-order with searing deliveries that lifted off a quick pitch.

Stokes then came in and dismantled the home team's lower-order as Australia had no answers. 

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