Ben Stokes' "beast mode" proved pivotal in England's remarkable fightback against Australia in the first Test of The Ashes series, as they overturned a dismal start to take control of the match.
The hosts' bowlers had inflicted severe damage on the England top order, dismissing them for just 172 runs in under 33 overs. Mitchell Starc delivered a career-best 7-58 on a pitch that Australian media described as a "green monster". However, Stokes and his five-strong pace attack proved to be the difference-makers.
Stokes' hopes of becoming only the fourth captain in the past 50 years to lead England to an Ashes series victory in Australia appeared under threat after the first-innings collapse. But the captain himself proved to be a turning point, ripping through the Australian line-up with five wickets for just 23 runs in six overs.
This was a scene-stealing performance from Stokes, who brought his team back into the contest and set them on course for a potential victory. His approach of being aggressive and demanding maximum effort from his teammates paid off, as England continued to bowl tightly throughout the day.
The Australian captain Starc acknowledged that both teams bowled well, but England's pace attack was more effective in breaking down their batsmen. Despite this, he remained calm and optimistic about the team's prospects, saying there was still a long time left in the match for Australia.
England are now poised to challenge for a first Test victory Down Under since 2011, with the second Test looming at The Gabba in Brisbane next week. The Ashes series has already taken its first step towards being an epic contest, and it promises to be a thrilling ride for fans of both teams.
The hosts' bowlers had inflicted severe damage on the England top order, dismissing them for just 172 runs in under 33 overs. Mitchell Starc delivered a career-best 7-58 on a pitch that Australian media described as a "green monster". However, Stokes and his five-strong pace attack proved to be the difference-makers.
Stokes' hopes of becoming only the fourth captain in the past 50 years to lead England to an Ashes series victory in Australia appeared under threat after the first-innings collapse. But the captain himself proved to be a turning point, ripping through the Australian line-up with five wickets for just 23 runs in six overs.
This was a scene-stealing performance from Stokes, who brought his team back into the contest and set them on course for a potential victory. His approach of being aggressive and demanding maximum effort from his teammates paid off, as England continued to bowl tightly throughout the day.
The Australian captain Starc acknowledged that both teams bowled well, but England's pace attack was more effective in breaking down their batsmen. Despite this, he remained calm and optimistic about the team's prospects, saying there was still a long time left in the match for Australia.
England are now poised to challenge for a first Test victory Down Under since 2011, with the second Test looming at The Gabba in Brisbane next week. The Ashes series has already taken its first step towards being an epic contest, and it promises to be a thrilling ride for fans of both teams.
he was on fire 
, ripping through australia's batsmen with ease. i mean, 5 wickets for just 23 runs is insane 
. it's clear why he's been so important to england's success in the past.
. he was leading from the front and demanding maximum effort from his teammates, which paid off big time 
. their pace attack was on point 
, and it's great to see them bouncing back from a tough start.
️. starc might have had a career-best, but england's guys were more effective in breaking down australia's batsmen 
. still, i'm excited for the rest of the match - this ashes series is shaping up to be epic 
!
Ben Stokes is literally a superhero on the cricket field 
. That guy's determination & skill are unmatched! His pace attack stepped up when it mattered most & I'm loving every second of this Ashes series 
