Join the Miguel Delaney team: Inside Football Join the Miguel Delaney Inside newsletter to get exclusive access and unparalleled insight. Football NewsletterJoin the Miguel Delaney inside Football newsletterShell-shocked is the word you’re looking for. After a morning in which England was ahead of the game, an afternoon where they were in control, and an evening when they lost, Travis Head’s incredible century was the catalyst for two spectacular batting collapses in a row. Australia defeated the touring team by eight wickets in a humiliating loss. Where would you like to begin? As a team, England’s two innings lasted 67.3 overs. Since 1904, they have never been dismissed twice as quickly. The Test as a whole was the ninth-shortest ever. Perth was meant to be a fast city, but never like this. “I’m shell-shocked a little bit,” After the match, captain Ben Stokes stated: “Wide eyed after that to see what unfolded, particularly after the first day. Our third innings with the bat and then to see what Head did… We’ll let this hurt, because it does.”open image in galleryEngland were left dejected after a stunning first Test defeat (AFP via Getty Images)England haven’t won a Test match in Australia since 2011. They have very few opportunities to do so and must win the final three matches if they want to win a series which both Stokes and Brendon Mccullum described as their biggest in their lives. After the adrenaline from a crazy 24 hours wears off, England will feel a dull ache. If England fails to turn around this series, then this day will live in infamy for English cricket. It’s the afternoon session on day two that will haunt England. At the time of the lunch break the tourists had 99 runs and one wicket in their second innings. The thought that they might lose was absurd, if not impossible. The pitch was becoming more settled, and so were the circumstances. The excitement of the day’s first innings, which saw 19 wickets falling, had subsided and an afternoon calm was in store. The only thing England needed to do was to bat, rest their bowlers, and establish a solid lead. England’s cause for optimism was well founded. The collapse of England on the first day was largely due to a single-man show. Mitchell Starc’s seven-wicket haul was nothing short of spectacular, but the supporting cast were…
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2025-11-22 13:34:34
