English cricket team in Australia and New Zealand in 1982–83

In hot and dry conditions (Perth was in the middle of a heatwave),[1] Greg Chappell won the toss and elected to field, meaning that in all five Ashes tests played at the WACA to date, the toss-winning captain had sent the opposition in to bat first.[7] The Australians made an early breakthrough when Dennis Lillee dismissed Geoff Cook for 1 with a short ball the Northamptonshire opener fended off his ribs to John Dyson at forward short leg with England's score on 14.[8] Vice-captain David Gower was next in and ensured with Chris Tavaré that no further wickets were lost, going into lunch with the score on 66.

In the middle session, Gower began to find his rhythm while Tavaré, who survived two dropped catches, continued to frustrate the Australians with dour defence. Lillee, whose cantankerous nature had in recent years become more difficult to control, had already been involved in a number of concerning incidents. After a leg-before appeal against Gower was rejected, he beat a fist into the ground, then following the next delivery which Gower played back up the pitch, Lillee kicked the ball angrily towards the slips.[7] The second-wicket partnership had yielded 95 runs when Gower, shortly after hitting his ninth four, was caught superbly off Terry Alderman by Dyson at backward square leg; Gower's innings of 72 in only 143 minutes was considered the highlight of the day's play.[8] Allan Lamb struggled early and was lucky to survive after nearly playing a delivery from Bruce Yardley onto his leg stump. When tea was called, England were 140 for two from 57 overs.[7]

There was tension and controversy in the final session, beginning when Lillee was again denied a wicket, appealing for a caught behind against Lamb. After some angry looks and muttering, Lillee snatched his sun hat from umpire Tony Crafter at the end of the over;[7] this same umpire had come between Lillee and Pakistani batsman Javed Miandad in an incident during the previous year's Perth test. Tavaré again let his partner take the initiative to push the score along, with Lamb now striking some hefty blows. The pair added 80 for the third wicket before Lamb, having just hit Yardley for a straight six against the sightscreen, edged a ball in the same over onto his thigh and wicketkeeper Rod Marsh was able to dive forward and take the rebound.[7] Lamb had scored 46 in 109 minutes which included five fours in addition to the aforementioned six. Ian Botham, Australia's nemesis from the previous series, strode to the crease and attacked from the outset, scoring 12 off six balls when, in the last ball of a Geoff Lawson over, Botham played forward and appeared beaten by an in-swinger. As wicketkeeper Marsh came forward to take a low catch, Lawson appealed to umpire Crafter for a catch but was rejected. After Lawson had collected his sun hat at the end of the over, he appealed to square leg umpire Mel Johnson, who confirmed to his colleague that the ball had carried. Crafter reversed his decision and gave Botham out. Botham, to his credit, walked immediately even though he had indicated to the umpires that the ball had struck his pad rather than the edge of the bat, and television replays suggested this was the case.[7][4] it was now Derek Randall's turn to join Tavaré in the middle for the final hour of play, and struggled to settle, playing and missing outside his off stump. Lillee took the second new ball with 15 minutes remaining, but was unable to break through.
At stumps England were 242 for four, with Tavaré on 66 and Randall on 32. Remarkably, Tavaré had not added to his score in the last 71 minutes of the day's play.[8]

The second day's play was marred by spiteful clashes between Australian and English fans, which spilled onto the field and claimed Terry Alderman as an unfortunate victim.