The Ashes live cricket scores: Australia continue battle with England on Day 2 in Perth series opener

Mitchell Starc has done it again, giving Australia the perfect start to their second innings by knocking over Zak Crawley in the first over for the second time in the Test match.

This time, Starc did all the work himself, claiming a spectacular caught-and-bowled at full stretch after Crawley’s meek attempt to work the ball back down the ground lobbed in the air.

Remarkably, it is the 25th time the left-armer has dismissed a batter in the first over of an innings.

The dismissal marks a pair for Crawley, who has been backed by his side despite a very modest overall record.

ENG 1-0

After spending much of the first day off the field in a move which forced him down the batting order, Usman Khawaja has joined his Australian teammates on the field for the start of the second innings.

Khawaja, who is standing at first slip, battled a back spasm on the opening day.

In what could prove problematic for Australia as their bowlers gear up to go again on the second day, Channel 7 expert Ricky Ponting believes conditions could be in England’s favour as day two wears on.

A bowling change has done the trick for England, with Brydon Carse grabbing Australia’s final wicket shortly after being introduced into the attack.

Nathan Lyon could not help but have a slash at a wider delivery, drawing a thick edge which Ben Duckett had no issues catching in the gully to fall for four.

The hosts have been bowled out for 132, leaving them 40 runs behind England.

England captain Ben Stokes was clapped off the ground by his teammates, raising the ball after finishing with figures of 5-23 with an inspired six-over spell at the back end of yesterday.

Play will resume in around 10 minutes.

Some members who were in position early to get their pick of the seats were confronted with ticketing issues trying to enter the ground.

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Just as Australia’s fast bowlers did to England’s tail-enders yesterday, the tourists are not giving the home side’s lower order much inside their own half.

Doggett has had much of the strike and been forced to take evasive action on several occasions, also popping up a tough chance England short leg Ollie Pope could not cling on to.

AUS 9-131

After claiming the first two wickets of his Test career yesterday, Brendan Doggett has managed to score his first runs at the top level today.

An uppercut from a Gus Atkinson bouncer lobbed over point, with Australia’s new No.11 happy to come back for two and retain the strike amid a bouncer barrage.

AUS 9-126

We are back under way at Optus Stadium, with Nathan Lyon and debutant No.11 Brendan Doggett in the middle for Australia as Mark Wood takes up the attack for England.

After a false start, Wood’s first delivery of the day was clocked at 140.8 km/h and was left alone by Doggett outside off stump.

AUS 9-123

All eyes were on Joe Root this morning after England’s star batter came up limping as his team warmed up with a soccer ball in the outfield.

After taking a moment to compose himself, Root was able to shake off what looked to be a problem with his ankle and join back in with the team.

Root was dismissed for a seven-ball duck on day one, with an edge from a loose drive off the bowling of Mitchell Starc pouched by Marnus Labuschagne at third slip.

In 2020, former England opener Rory Burns was ruled out of a tour of South Africa after injuring his ankle in a football game at training.

In what we hope will be our last update on the covers for the day, they are folded up on a trailer on the back of the ground staff’s buggy.

With the radar still looking clear, we should be fine to start in 15 minutes.