Australia crumbles on opening day against England in Perth
Australia’s cricket establishment has unleashed fierce condemnation following their team’s catastrophic batting display on the opening day in Perth, where they crumbled to 123 for nine against England’s pace assault, reports BritPanorama.
Veteran opener Usman Khawaja was at the centre of the criticism after back problems prevented him from taking his customary position at the top of the order. The 38-year-old’s fitness troubles emerged after he enjoyed a round of golf the previous day.
Leading publications across Australia delivered damning verdicts, with The West Australian declaring the batting lineup was in “total disarray” while questioning the wisdom of Khawaja’s pre-match activities. Their front page carried the headline “Mulligan” alongside revelations that Khawaja completed a full 18-hole round before the crucial Test match.
His subsequent back spasms forced him from the field during England’s innings. Having departed after the 29th over, Khawaja was absent for 19 minutes before returning in the 33rd. Cricket’s regulations stipulate that fielders missing more than eight minutes cannot bat until they have been back on the field for an equivalent duration. With merely seven minutes of fielding completed before Mitchell Starc claimed England’s final two wickets, Khawaja was legally barred from opening the batting.
Former Australian cricketer Tom Moody expressed outrage at what he termed “poor management” that was “beyond a joke”, insisting that just as Starc had spearheaded the bowling attack, “Uzzie” should have led the batting effort. The Sydney Morning Herald drew parallels with England’s 2013-14 humiliation, noting that Australia’s band of veterans faces a similarly frightful ordeal against one of the fastest pace attacks the old enemy has fielded.
Debutant Jake Weatherald was thrust into the opening role, only to fall for a second-ball duck to Jofra Archer. Steve Smith was forced to bat at number three in the reshuffled order. Mitchell Starc’s exceptional performance, claiming seven wickets for 58 runs, represented his finest Test figures and dismantled England for just 172 in 33 overs, marking the briefest completed innings during England’s Bazball era.
Yet Australia squandered their early advantage as Ben Stokes orchestrated a devastating counterattack. Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse contributed two dismissals each during a punishing evening session. Perth Stadium’s 51,000-strong crowd witnessed their team surrender nine wickets in a single day. Australia now confronts a perilous second morning, still 49 runs adrift with their final wicket remaining.
This match serves as a stark reminder of how quickly fortunes can shift in cricket, illustrating the delicate balance between confidence and complacency at the highest level. With the Ashes at stake, the task ahead could hardly be more daunting.
