England's first Test defeat in Perth has left them reeling, marking their worst ever Ashes loss in the country. The visitors were set 205 to follow on at the crease after Australia was bowled out for 132 in their first innings, but they crumbled to a humiliating eight-wicket defeat. England had been in command for much of the match, with skipper Ben Stokes and opener Ben Duckett providing a solid foundation.
However, the game took a turn for the worse when Scott Boland picked up two wickets in successive deliveries to leave England reeling on 105-3. The visitors never recovered from this setback, with Australia's Travis Head taking centre stage to record a masterful innings of 67 not out.
England's batting collapse was swift and merciless, with their attack failing to live up to expectations. Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins took six wickets between them, while Josh Hazlewood claimed three to seal the win for the hosts.
The defeat is England's worst ever Ashes loss in Australia, surpassing their previous low of 68 against South Africa at Perth in 2018-19. It also marks a dismal first Test performance by England, who were expected to dominate on the Perth pitch.
Stokes and head coach Bazza McCullum have defended their team's performance, saying they will stick to their "blueprint" for success in the series. However, questions are being asked about their tactics, particularly with regards to the decision to bat second on a pitch that seemed tailor-made for England.
The defeat also raises concerns about Australia's batting line-up, which has looked solid but not spectacular throughout the match. Stand-in captain Steve Smith praised his team for showing great character and resilience in the face of adversity.
As England look to bounce back from this humiliating loss, they will need to address their batting weaknesses and find a way to dominate on the Perth pitch. With the series already 2-0 down, every Test counts, and England must draw inspiration from previous victories to turn the series around.
However, the game took a turn for the worse when Scott Boland picked up two wickets in successive deliveries to leave England reeling on 105-3. The visitors never recovered from this setback, with Australia's Travis Head taking centre stage to record a masterful innings of 67 not out.
England's batting collapse was swift and merciless, with their attack failing to live up to expectations. Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins took six wickets between them, while Josh Hazlewood claimed three to seal the win for the hosts.
The defeat is England's worst ever Ashes loss in Australia, surpassing their previous low of 68 against South Africa at Perth in 2018-19. It also marks a dismal first Test performance by England, who were expected to dominate on the Perth pitch.
Stokes and head coach Bazza McCullum have defended their team's performance, saying they will stick to their "blueprint" for success in the series. However, questions are being asked about their tactics, particularly with regards to the decision to bat second on a pitch that seemed tailor-made for England.
The defeat also raises concerns about Australia's batting line-up, which has looked solid but not spectacular throughout the match. Stand-in captain Steve Smith praised his team for showing great character and resilience in the face of adversity.
As England look to bounce back from this humiliating loss, they will need to address their batting weaknesses and find a way to dominate on the Perth pitch. With the series already 2-0 down, every Test counts, and England must draw inspiration from previous victories to turn the series around.