Live text updates and the latest score from Optus Stadium in Perth as Australia and England begin the first Test of the 2025/26 Ashes series. Follow ball-by-ball action, session summaries and match-turning moments as the visitors attempt to wrestle back advantage in hostile conditions.
England arrive with a difficult recent record in Australia, having won just six of their last 46 Tests played Down Under. The visitors also face the weight of history: the previous three Ashes tours in Australia finished a combined 13-0 in the hosts’ favour, underlining how tough winning here has been.
This live blog brings you the immediate developments from the ground — score updates, wicket alerts, key partnerships, scorecards and on-field context — plus reaction and analysis as the day unfolds. Stay tuned for the latest from Perth, including pitch behaviour, weather influences and any tactical shifts that shape the contest.
Friday 21 November 2025, 03:56 UK