England's Ashes hopes were kept alive by an unbroken partnership of 174 between Dawid Malan and Jonny Bairstow on the first day of the Perth Test, with Malan making his maiden Test hundred.
The Middlesex batsman finished the day on 110 not out with Bairstow on 75 at the other end after being moved up to bat at number six, as the tourists recovered from 131-4 to reach 305-4 by stumps.
In its final Ashes Test, the WACA ground produced a typically fast and bouncy pitch on which Australia were hoping to seal the Ashes, but England skipper Joe Root had no hesitation in batting after winning the toss.
Alastair Cook fell lbw to Starc for just seven, but while his 150th Test did not start well, fellow opener Mark Stoneman made a gritty 56 against a barrage of bouncers before finally being given out when the third umpire adjudged he had gloved one short ball behind.
With James Vince falling for 25 and Joe Root being strangled down the leg side for 20, England looked set to fall short again before Malan and Bairstow came together.
Taking a more positive approach to playing Nathan Lyon than England's batsman have in the previous two Tests, the pair took England to 175-4 at tea and then batted through the final session to take control.
Malan had a big scare on 92 when Mitchell Starc took the new ball and he edged to Cameron Bancroft at slip, who put the chance down. It was the second slip catch dropped during the day, after Stoneman had earlier been dropped by the returning Mitchell Marsh. All-rounder Marsh has been recalled at the expense of Peter Handscomb, but bowled just seven overs on the opening day.
With Bairstow playing fluently at the other end, England have already made their highest score of the series. The new ball is just nineovers old and thus will still pose a threat in the morning, but a strong first hour could put England in a strong position to make their highest score at the WACA since the 1986-87 series.
On that occasion, they piled up 592-8 declared and the innings included the three highest individual scores by Englishmen, led by Chris Broad's 162.
Fans booking corporate hospitality for next summer's Edgbaston Test between England and India may have been among those present to see Malan's highest score to date, a knock of 65 against the West Indies in this year's day-night Test. Having shown plenty of promise so far, the Middlesex strokemaker may now be set for a fine Test career. Indeed, with England's last two centurions in Perth being Alastair Cook and Ben Stokes, he is in good company.
If England can make an imposing score, the question will then be whether their attack can force home the advantage on a good pitch without an express bowler. But even a draw would mean they are still in the series with the Tests at Melbourne and Sydney to come. The Boxing Day and New Year venues are the grounds where England have enjoyed their best winning records down under.
A good opening day at Perth might not have turned the series on its head, but it has given England a platform from which they may yet have a big say in the destination of the urn.
Image: Ryan Pierse / Getty Images from Keith Prowse subscription