England's hopes for a strong start in the third Ashes Test at Perth's Optus Stadium were brutally dismantled, with a former Australian cricketer labelling their disastrous first innings as deserved payback for a poor team attitude.
A Collapse of Catastrophic Proportions
The English batting lineup crumbled under the relentless pressure applied by the Australian bowlers. They were skittled for a paltry 185 runs in their first innings, a total that put them immediately on the back foot. While the pace attack was formidable, the damage was largely done by the part-time spin of Steve Smith, who claimed the key wicket of Dawid Malan.
Former Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin did not hold back in his assessment of the tourists' performance. He pointedly stated that the collapse was a direct consequence of England's mindset, suggesting they were more focused on complaining about the conditions than adapting to them. "It was a really poor, poor mindset from the English batters," Haddin commented, indicating they got what they deserved.
Australia's Dominant Response
In stark contrast to England's struggles, the Australian batsmen capitalised on the opportunity. David Warner led the charge with a blistering half-century, showcasing an aggressive and positive intent from the very beginning. His innings set the tone for the home side, who comfortably surpassed England's total with wickets in hand.
This commanding performance with the bat allowed Australia to seize firm control of the match. By building a significant lead, they placed immense scoreboard pressure on an English side that already appeared mentally fragile. The gulf in application and attitude between the two teams was the defining narrative of the opening days at Optus Stadium.
Broader Implications for the Series
This humiliating batting collapse has severe ramifications for England's campaign to retain the Ashes urn. Being bowled out so cheaply in a must-win match exposes deep-seated issues within the touring squad, extending beyond mere technical flaws to encompass team morale and strategic approach.
The criticism from figures like Haddin underscores a perception that England's problems are as much psychological as they are cricketing. As the series progresses, the team must find a way to rectify their poor attitude and batting failures if they are to have any chance of mounting a comeback against a confident Australian side.
