Final result
Australia won by 8 wickets
Player of the match: MA Starc
Result · Test Cricket
England vs Australia
Result · Test Cricket
Venue par · 179Chase success · 52%POTM · MA Starc
Match preview & overview
Starc's 10-wicket haul seals Australia's 8-wicket win over England in Perth
Australia beat England by 8 wickets at Optus Stadium, Perth on 21 November 2025. Mitchell Starc took 10 wickets for 113 runs across the match and was named Player of the Match, his swing and pace leaving England's batters with few answers on either occasion. England won the toss and chose to bat, posting 172 in the first innings before Australia were bowled out for 132. England's second innings of 164 set a target of 205, which Australia chased down with only 2 wickets down. The result was never seriously in doubt once England failed to push beyond 164 in their second innings.
England's toss decision looked reasonable on paper. Optus Stadium's average first-innings score across 65 Tests is 179, suggesting the pitch tends to be at its most benign early on. But Starc found movement quickly, and England never built the substantial first-innings lead that might have put the match beyond Australia's reach. A 40-run first-innings deficit, combined with a second-innings total 15 runs short of their first, left too little for Australia to chase.
Australia's first innings collapse to 132 briefly threatened to make this a contest. That score gave England a 40-run cushion and the initiative heading into the third innings. England could not press the advantage. Their second innings of 164 was only slightly worse than their first, but at a venue where the chase success rate is 49 per cent across 65 matches, a target of 205 proved well within Australia's reach once their top order settled.
Pitch report & venue insights
Optus Stadium, Perth — 65-match sample
Aggregate conditions from 2017–2025. Numbers that tend to decide matches at this ground — par score, chase success, powerplay averages and toss bias.
65
T20 matches hosted
179
Avg 1st-innings score
152
Avg 2nd-innings score
52%
Chase success rate
39
Avg powerplay runs
57%
Toss-field rate
Key talking points
Moments the match hinged on
Headline angle
Starc demolishes England across both innings
Mitchell Starc finished with match figures of 10/113 across 24.8 overs, making him the clear difference between the two sides. His performance earned him Player of the Match and gave Australia's attack complete control from day one.
Angle 02
England's decision to bat backfired immediately
Angle 03
Australia's first innings collapse kept the match tight
Angle 04
Perth's chase history favoured Australia
Angle 05
Australia's recent Ashes dominance continues
Betting & analytical angles
Angles the data surfaced
- Top wicket-taker markets may be worth noting in future Perth Tests given how heavily pace bowlers have historically dominated at Optus Stadium.
- England's recent form heading into this match, which included three consecutive losses to New Zealand, may have been a useful signal in pre-match outright markets.
- First-innings total markets at this venue tend to be competitive given the average of 179 across 65 matches, with scores frequently clustering in the 150-220 range.
- Player of the Match markets in Perth Tests historically favour the leading seamer; Starc's form across the 2025 series would have been a relevant data point for those markets.
For editorial context only. Not a forecast and not betting advice. 18+ only, please gamble responsibly.
Frequently asked
Questions about England vs Australia
Who won the England vs Australia Test in Perth on 21 November 2025?
Australia won by 8 wickets at Optus Stadium, Perth. Chasing 205 in the final innings, Australia reached 205/2 to seal a comfortable victory. Mitchell Starc was named Player of the Match.
What were Mitchell Starc's figures in the Perth Test?
Starc took 10 wickets in the match for 113 runs across 24.8 overs, making him Player of the Match. It is the second time in the available records that he has taken 9 or more wickets in a Test at this venue.
What were the innings scores in the Perth Test?
England made 172 in the first innings and 164 in the third innings. Australia were bowled out for 132 in their first innings before reaching the target of 205 for the loss of just 2 wickets.
What is the head-to-head record between England and Australia in Test cricket?
Australia lead the all-time series 96 wins to England's 63 from 174 meetings, with 14 results that produced no result. Australia have won four of the last five completed matches between the sides.
Where can I watch England vs Australia Test cricket in the UK?
Ashes Test cricket is broadcast in the UK on Sky Sports Cricket, available via Sky Sports subscription, Sky Go, or a NOW TV day or month pass. BBC Radio Test Match Special also provides ball-by-ball commentary across all five days of each Test.
What is the average first-innings score at Optus Stadium in Perth?
Across 65 matches at Optus Stadium, the average first-innings score is 179. England's 172 in this match was marginally below that average, and Australia's first-innings 132 fell well short of it.
Photo credits (2)
- Mitchell Starc — photo by Dave Morton, Public domain · source
- Steve Smith — photo by NAPARAZZI, CC BY-SA 2.0 · source