The fiercely contested Ashes series produced an unforgettable moment off the pitch, as England bowler Stuart Broad's horrified reaction to Joe Root's dismissal during a dramatic batting collapse became an instant viral sensation.
Pivotal Moment Captured on Live TV
The incident unfolded during a pulsating second day of the first Test in Perth. England, who had built a promising position with a lead of 105 runs and nine wickets in hand, saw their advantage spectacularly evaporate after lunch.
From a commanding 65-1, the tourists catastrophically slumped to 75-5. The pivotal moment came when Australian paceman Mitchell Starc clean bowled captain Joe Root. The sight of Root's stumps being flattened was bad enough for England supporters, but the camera then cut to a commentary box where Broad was working for Australian broadcaster 7+.
The former England bowler was captured frozen in place, staring straight ahead in stunned silence as the replays rolled. A few seconds later, he bowed his head in despair, a picture of dejection that stood in stark contrast to the grinning former Australia opener Matthew Hayden sitting beside him, who delivered a cutting on-air jibe.
Social Media Erupts Over Viral Ashes Moment
Cricket fans were quick to seize upon the powerful imagery, with the clip spreading rapidly across social media platforms. One user captured the mood, writing: 'The beauty of ashes is right here. Every reaction is getting captured somewhere. Talk about broadcasting levels.'
Another observer noted the unusual dynamic, commenting: 'If Broad and Hayden are getting along, this Ashes is officially wild.' A third posted a simple, laughing assessment: 'Broad doesn't wanna be there ehh.'
Broad's visceral reaction perfectly mirrored the despair felt by England fans who had watched their team seize control before lunch, only to witness a familiar batting frailty resurface with devastating consequences.
Australia Dominate as Test Finishes in Two Days
The collapse was orchestrated by a ferocious post-lunch spell from Scott Boland and Mitchell Starc, who ripped through England's middle order, removing Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, and Harry Brook before Starc's decisive blow to Root.
England were eventually bowled out for a meagre 164, with Starc finishing with exceptional match figures of 10 for 113. Australia's attack had ruthlessly turned pressure into total dominance.
The hosts then made embarrassingly light work of the run chase. Travis Head smashed a blistering 69-ball century, and Marnus Labuschagne steered the team home inside just 28.2 overs to complete a comprehensive eight-wicket victory.
The result sealed a two-day finish, a feat not seen in an Ashes Test since 1921, leaving England with a monumental uphill task for the remainder of the series in Australia.
England head coach Brendon McCullum later addressed the collapse, specifically praising Boland's impact. 'I thought Boland bowled exceptionally well, he hit the deck hard and his paces were up,' McCullum told TNT Sports. 'We were on top of him in the first innings so it was impressive the way he came back at a pivotal moment.'
He also defended his team's much-debated aggressive batting approach, stating, 'Yes, there are times when we have to throttle down and times when we have to power up. But the basic principle of how we operate as a team is to put pressure on the opposition.'
All eyes now turn to the second Test in Brisbane, where England desperately need a response after this bruising start to the iconic Ashes series.
