Australia has been set an awkward 205-run target for victory in the Ashes opener after fast bowlers Scott Boland and Mitchell Starc flipped the Test match on its head, with England losing 4-11 in a dramatic 19-ball collapse at Perth Stadium.

The tourists, one stage in a comfortable position at 1-65, were bowled out for 164 in 34.4 overs after Boland (4-33) and Starc (3-55) ripped through the middle order during a frantic afternoon session, with the New South Welshman securing his third ten-wicket haul in Tests.

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However, the hosts are sweating on the fitness of opener Usman Khawaja and spinner Nathan Lyon, who are both nursing minor injuries.

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Earlier on Saturday, England’s second innings got off to a disastrous start when Starc, who claimed seven wickets in a career-best performance on day one, removed opener Zak Crawley for a fifth-ball duck with a stunning piece of athleticism. Lunging at full stretch to his left, the 35-year-old held onto a one-handed return catch while almost parallel to the turf, his 25th dismissal in the first over of a Test innings.

Crawley, who also copped a duck on Friday, became the first England opener to bag a pair in a Test match since 1999.

Starc’s simply absurd one-handed snare | 00:38

Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope rebuilt the innings with a 65-run partnership for the second wicket, aided by some sloppy overthrows from the Australians. On the final delivery before lunch, Duckett successfully overturned a LBW shout that pitched marginally outside leg stump, denying Boland his first wicket of the match.

But the Victorian wreaked havoc with the Kookaburra after the interval, with Duckett, Pope and the dangerous Harry Brook each edging towards the slips cordon. Pope and Brook were both guilty of needlessly wafting at wide deliveries with a diagonal bat, with the duo seemingly still adjusting to Australia’s bouncy decks.

Starc joined the party at the other end, with superstar Joe Root chopping on for 8 to silence the Barmy Army and bring the match back in the balance.

Starc strikes as Root goes cheap again | 00:56

Later in the same over, England wicketkeeper Jamie Smith was handed a massive reprieve on 0 when the under-fire Khawaja dropped a regulation chance at first slip, infuriating Starc.

The left-hander didn’t have to wait long for his tenth scalp of the match, however, removing rival skipper Ben Stokes for 2, with captain Steve Smith swallowing a low catch at second slip. It was the 11th time that Starc has dismissed Stokes in Tests, a feat only Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has achieved more often.

Smith’s knock ended in controversial fashion, given out caught behind for 15 after a lengthy review from third umpire Sharfuddoula, who analysed footage and Snicko replays for several minutes before handing down his verdict, which prompted boos and jeers from the England supporters in attendance.

Lengthy review ends Smith’s innings | 02:27

With the tail exposed, Australia speared the field and turned to a bumper ploy, which backfired when Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse combined for a 50-run partnership for the eighth wicket, featuring four sixes. However, Boland and debutant Brendan Doggett (3-51) cleaned up the tail, wrapping up the innings before the tea break.

Earlier on Saturday, England secured a 40-run first-innings lead after Australia was bowled out for 132, with paceman Carse dismissing tailender Lyon for the final wicket. However, the veteran tweaker was left nursing a sore hip after copping a blow to the body.