Former Australia cricket captain and coach Justin Langer has launched a stinging critique of the England team, accusing them of a 'lack of respect' for Test cricket following their astonishing two-day defeat in the Ashes opener at Perth's Optus Stadium.
A Swift and Costly Collapse
Langer's comments came after England's dramatic capitulation, which saw the visitors dismissed twice in a mere 67.3 overs. This careless batting led to an eight-wicket victory for Australia, sealed on the second evening, largely accelerated by Travis Head's blistering century. Langer questioned whether such a swift conclusion was a 'disaster or triumph' for the sport's future.
He elaborated in his column for the West Australian, stating, 'Having been in front for a lot of the game, their lack of respect for the conditions, their opponent and the game of five-day cricket has cost them in this instance.' He added that the missed opportunities would likely 'keep you awake at night' for the English side.
The Real Victims: Fans and the Future
Beyond the result, Langer highlighted the wider repercussions of a two-day Test match. He expressed particular sympathy for young fans with tickets for the third day, who were left 'heartbroken' and 'robbed of the dream of seeing their heroes live'.
'The health of the game is inherently linked with kids falling in love with it,' Langer wrote. 'Without that, the game is unsustainable. Two-day Tests are three days of missed opportunities for those kids to fall in love with the game.'
The financial and logistical fallout was also severe. The match became the second-shortest Test in Australian history in terms of balls bowled, with only 847 deliveries. This led to:
- Around 2,000 casual staff missing a shift and their wages.
- An estimated £5 million loss for Cricket Australia and the stadium from ticket and concession sales on day three.
- Hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of prepared food being wasted.
Langer also shared the disappointment of friends who had travelled from England for the match, noting they were 'shattered' after six months of anticipation.
Further Woes for English Cricket in Australia
In a double blow for English cricket Down Under, the England Lions second-string team also suffered defeat on the same Monday. They lost by eight wickets to a Cricket Australia XI in their four-day match at Lilac Hill in Perth. The loss was spearheaded by Leeds-born Josh Inglis, who smashed an unbeaten 125 off just 107 balls, chasing down a target of 232 with ease.
