Join the Miguel Delaney Inside Football Get exclusive insights and behind-the scenes access to the Miguel Delaney: inside newsletter Football Join the Miguel Delaney Inside newsletter Football newsletterEngland suffered another Ashes nightmare Down Under after falling to a humiliating two-day defeat in the first Test against Australia.A two-month tour that began with high hopes of regaining the urn just 48 hours earlier lurched towards a brutal eight-wicket loss that was their fastest since their last two-day capitulation in 1921.England’s error-prone batting was found wanting for the second day in a row as they tossed away a strong position and opened the door to a thrashing at the hands of 69-ball centurion Travis Head.Sterling work by their pace attack somehow turned their day one effort of 172 into a first-innings lead of 40, and just after lunch that had swelled to 105 for the lost of a single wicket. But they proceeded to lose nine for 99 – a job for the emergency services in any country – as the worst fears of England fans came true.Some late blows from the tail left Australia chasing 205, the highest score of the match, but they walked it as Head smashed the English attack to all parts.Stepping up as makeshift opener with Usman Khawaja nursing back pain he hammered 123 in 83 balls, the second-quickest Ashes hundred ever, as a crestfallen bowling group saw their previous menace evaporate.open image in galleryTravis Head smashed the ball to all parts in victory (Getty Images)But the real fault lay with the batters who pressed them back into service so soon. England was unforgivable for losing all 20 of their wickets in only 67.5 overs. They will be deeply hurt by this. In their absence Mitchell Starc was unstoppable, taking combined figures of 10-133.Australia were bowled out for 132 in the morning, Brydon Carse taking the final scalp, but England’s problems began almost immediately as Zak Crawley was dismissed for his second duck of the match. Starc has been unable to get him to bat through the first ball on both occasions and it is clear that he is in trouble. Ben Duckett & Ollie Pope put up 65 in an unbroken stand, but Scott Boland caught Duckett in the back to start the chaos. Pope, Harry Brook and Joe Root went out in six deliveries with no runs added to their total.
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2025-11-22 10:15:47
