The Ashes - 1st Test- 21/11/2025 - Perth

[West Oxon U’s]

LUNCH: DAY 2

England lead by 99 runs after Australia bowled out for 132.

Duckett not out 28 and Pope not out 24.

England 59-1.

 

[chuckbert]

 

[West Oxon U’s]

England collapsing - 77-5

 

[chuckbert]

 

[West Oxon U’s]

88-6

Starc with his 10th wicket of the match.England have lost five Wickets for 29 runs.

 

[chuckbert]

 

[Billyox]

Absolute shambles

 

[chuckbert]

Over 200 to get, so getting them out should be achievable if our bowlers want to continue setting the standard.

 

[holdsteady]

Second day of a test and we have been bowled out by tea twice, that must be a record. Hopefully the bowlers can repeat yesterday for us and it’s just this pitch but I have a feeling that won’t happen.

Crawley faced 11 balls, no runs and out twice, in a bad bunch he has managed to stand out with a truly terrible start to an ashes series.

 

[Twiggy85]

I am nervous about this - fear our bowlers won’t be able to repeat the trick. Needed another 50 minimum

 

[unification]

Well, this will be over today. The Aussies won’t bat that badly twice. We seem to manage it though.

 

[chuckbert]

Ffs. It’s like watching Oxford.

 

[holdsteady]

Well it’s starting to look like we have had our one good innings and get over excited part of the ashes followed up by crushing disappointment, all inside of 2 days and a few sessions.

 

[TailsWeWin]

Well it’s starting to look like we have had our one good innings and get over excited part of the ashes followed up by crushing disappointment, all inside of 2 days and a few sessions.

Yup. We’ve messed up our best chance of winning a test

 

[Royalstandard74]

All over, you can’t give the Aussies a second chance, a total shambles from England.

 

[pommy80]

Bazball is a joke. Never want to see ex cricketers like Vaughan keep saying it’s great to watch. We won’t have another better opportunity to beat this team, than this game.

 

[chuckbert]

So - given the rate the wickets are falling - if anyone is going to end up at a loose end for a couple of days in Perth, here are my top picks.

If you like wacky animals:
- the zoo's not bad. Short ferry ride from Elizabeth quay and a short walk. If you're patient you might see a numbat.
- Whiteman Park/Caversham Wildlife park. Feed some roos and cuddle a wombat etc. A bit of a PITA on public transport but possible (or uber).
If you like plants (I know that FOSB wouldn't believe you):
- Bus up to Kings Park and walk round the botanic gardens. Nice views of the city.
If you've got a whole day and like fresh air:
- ferry to rottnest (from Eliz.quay or train to Fremantle and ferry - buy tickets online in advance. Rent a bike and a snorkel (can buy with ferry ticket) and spend the day dodging Quokkas and avoiding blue-ringed octopuses

Interesting places for a drink/meal:
City Beach - (bus) fairly quiet (Clancy's fish bar)
Cottesloe - (train/bus) busier a few choices
Fremantle - (train) lots to do. Cicerellos and other places on the boat harbour
Leederville - (train) Perth version of hip, restaurants pubs cafes etc.

If you're more adventurous, hire a car for the day and head up to the Pinnacles and some lobster and chips at Cervantes lobster shack. It's a longer drive than most brits are comfortable with, but a classic day out for Perthlings.

Happy to make any other suggestions.

 

[holdsteady]

Got a wicket, so few runs for them to chase that we need to follow this up quickly. With Head looking good though that’s a big ask.

 

[uptheus]

I’m here for the first two days
Haven’t got a flag but will be wearing my OUFC hat
Found the Barmy Army HQ and will be having a drink there later

Enjoy Graham, but disappointed you’re missing the Boro game!!

 

[Billyox]

Bazball is a joke. Never want to see ex cricketers like Vaughan keep saying it’s great to watch. We won’t have another better opportunity to beat this team, than this game.

Bazball is great when it works but sometimes you have to play the situation and today was the situation we had plenty of time to build a lead and we fluffed it

 

[holdsteady]

Australia are not far off baz balling us here though.
The big problem is we just didn’t put enough runs on to put them under any pressure, a 205 lead is not going to worry a chasing team inside of day two even in the fourth innings, once we didn’t get an early wicket you could see them grow and realise this was going to be a walk in the park.

Stokes on for a last go at this.

 

[SSO]

This is like being 2-0 up with 10 minutes to go only to lose 3-2

 

[ZeroTheHero]

You cannot bat that badly twice and hope to win a test match. Too many flash in the pan batsmen who will score nothing much of the time and a lot occasionally.

 

[Twiggy85]

This was a great opportunity to win a test match - all our players fully fit and two quality Aussie bowlers out and we have completely messed it up.

 

[Orkney Islands Yellow]

Oh FFS

 

[Essexyellows]

I think the Aussies might just win this..............

 

[Northstandboy]

Our best chance to stop the Perth rot, gone!

 

[Bitter]

Let's not sugar coat this. Truth is England are just not very good.

 

[Andy Stroud]

On the bright side, our bowlers will be well rested ahead of the 2nd test.

 

[Twiggy85]

On the bright side, our bowlers will be well rested ahead of the 2nd test.

So will the batters!!!