It had been 844 days since the world’s most fierce and famous foes last faced off.

And from Leeds to Leederville and Cotswolds to Cottesloe, they came from all over the world to Perth to witness history unfold on the first day of the most anticipated Ashes series in 143 years.

In a day of mayhem that mirrored last year’s clash with India, a remarkable 17 wickets fell on the opening day. England were bowled out for 172, with Australia at 8-121 just before stumps.

Even hours before the first ball on Friday morning, a noisy stampede of more than 51,531 die-hard cricket fans lucky enough to have the hottest ticket in town flooded the walkways of Optus Stadium.

The aura of it all was summed up best by Alex Marsden, who, flanked by his ‘Cottesloe Crew,’ could not get there fast enough.

“It’s not often you get iconic sport like this close to home so we’re not going to let it pass us by,” he said.

Donning Swan Draught shirts, Mr Marsden said the group’s choice of attire was a bid to go under the radar.

“Mate, we’ve heard the Barmy Army can get a bit full on when they’re on the losing side — not real good losers — so we though we better be a bit inconspicuous,” he said. “See, green and gold — you’re just showing it off — Swanny (Draught) though, not so much.”

Others, despite the early hour, clutched overpriced mid-strength beer cabs in one hand while draped in the familiar St Georges’ Cross flags that had been carefully Sharpied with hometown club slogans.

The England tourists were easy to spot. Many had their sun hats pulled low and their shirts already sticking to their backs as the temperature climbed to a barmy 29C.

Father and son Paul and Harrison Steele admitted the result would likely divide the family.

“He (my son) was born here and unfortunately for him — he supports the Australians,” Mr Steele said.

“It’ll be a good weekend out for me but Harrison might be a bit upset with the result.”

The atmosphere was thick with anticipation — the type only a century-old rivalry could bring.

Meanwhile, England fan Jack Morris said it was like “being on tour with 50,000 mates but half of them supporting the wrong team.”

“This is my first time coming to Perth and it is beautiful — what a place to hold the Ashes,” he said.

From a distance, the famous Barmy Army painted a striking sea of white and red, filling a wedge of the stands with their trumpets and face-paint.

On the other side of the ground, a sea of green and gold tried to hold the fort from the foreign flags that formed a patchwork quilt across the front rows of the stands: Newcastle, Liverpool, Bristol, some unidentifiable towns in the Midlands.

“They’re (English) a bloody noisy bunch i’ll give em’ that — never heard a side cheer so much when they’re falling apart,” Aussie James Thornton said.

The Barmy Army’s enthusiasm waned when the English side was bowled out by early afternoon, and that’s when the Aussies really came to life.