Australia need 205 to win the first Ashes Test after England collapsed from 65-1 to 164 all out, with Boland and Starc taking seven wickets
AUSTRALIA require 205 runs to win the opening Ashes Test after England suffered a dramatic second-innings collapse on Saturday.
The tourists appeared comfortable at 65-1 before losing four wickets in four overs after lunch.
Scott Boland triggered the collapse by removing Ben Duckett (28), Ollie Pope (33) and Harry Brook (0) in just 11 deliveries.
Mitchell Starc then dismissed Joe Root for eight, compounding the England captain’s miserable start to the series after his first-innings duck.
Starc also removed Ben Stokes for two, reducing England to 88-6 and completing his 10-wicket match haul.
The veteran paceman had taken 7-58 in England’s first innings of 172, his career-best Test figures.
England were rescued by a 50-run partnership between Gus Atkinson (37) and Brydon Carse (20) before being bowled out for 164 before tea.
Boland finished with 4-33 while Starc claimed 3-55 in the second innings.
The match began explosively with 19 wickets falling on the opening day amid searing pace bowling.
Australia resumed on 123-9 and added just nine runs before Nathan Lyon fell to Carse for four, giving England a 40-run first-innings lead.
Stokes was England’s first-innings hero with 5-23 from just 36 balls.
Starc electrified the sold-out Perth Stadium crowd by removing Zak Crawley in his first over for the 25th time he’s taken a wicket in the opening over of a Test.
The veteran produced a spectacular caught-and-bowled, consigning Crawley to a pair in the match.
Duckett and Pope had appeared settled before lunch, reaching 59-1 while capitalising on some loose bowling.
But Boland found his rhythm and swing after the break to dismantle England’s middle order.
Brendan Doggett contributed with the wickets of Jamie Smith (15), Carse and Jofra Archer (5). – AFP
