Cricket

Stuart Broad could not hide his frustration as England threw away a golden chance in the first Test in Perth as the Channel Seven commentator revealed he was praying it wasn’t actually happening.

Seemingly everyone wants Travis Head to open the batting - except one man.

England will find themselves in trouble if they abandon Bazball now, with the team to double down on their aggressive tactics heading into Brisbane.

The West Test reached a television audience of 5.8 million people across Australia, as the Perth pitch proved too hot for England to handle.

After England capitulated to a defeat inside two days in Perth after being in a dominant position just hours earlier, their media has had their say — and one former captain has been particularly savage.

‘It’s difficult.’

A meme was born and the recriminations began, with a ‘has-been’ biting back hard.

MITCHELL JOHNSON: With the first Test on the line, Travis Head Bazballed the Bazballers and they didn’t have an answer.

The veteran has been exposed by his own teammate and there’s nowhere left to hide.

Travis Head has scored one of the greatest Ashes centuries in the history of the rivalry to blast Australia to a Perth victory and a series lead in a head-spinning two-day Test. 

Usman Khawaja played golf on Thursday and then battled back spasms a day later, but Cricket Australia's boss says linking the two things is drawing a long bow.

WATCH: Mitchell Starc continues to put the Aussies on his back in Perth, completing an epic return catch off his own bowling for yet another first-over wicket.

The reason Usman Khawaja was off the field and couldn’t open for Australia on the first day against England has been revealed.

‘The kids were over there too.’