In the opening match of the 2025-26 The Ashes 2025‑26 at Perth, England’s batting unravelled in dramatic fashion, handing the initiative to Australia. One of the central talking points was Joe Root — usually one of England’s most dependable batters — who registered a duck in the first innings and managed only eight runs in the second, both times dismissed by Mitchell Starc. This was the tenth occasion on which Starc has claimed Root’s wicket in Test cricket.
England appeared to be in reasonably strong position early on, but a quick succession of dismissals altered momentum, exposing the fragility of their batting under pressure.
“Bazball with no sense”: Australia’s blunt verdict
The critique was not limited to statistics. From Australia’s camp, David Warner launched a merciless attack on England’s adopted aggressive style — the so-called “Bazball” philosophy. He described it as “Bazball with no sense… Now we want some smarts in the game, and that just isn’t smart.”
Warner singled out Root and other batters such as Ollie Pope and Harry Brook, suggesting they tried to force progress when the conditions and Australia’s attack did not allow for such flamboyance. The underlying message was that aggression alone will not carry you through the rigours of a Test match if it lacks discipline and awareness of match context.
Implications and warning for England
The collapse carries broader implications for England’s campaign in the series. With this level of batting failure in a high-stakes opening Test, the pressure grows considerably. Root’s personal burden is significant — the repeated dismissals by Starc underline a recurring vulnerability that opponents will try to exploit.
Furthermore, Warner’s scathing remarks underscore the view that England’s approach may need recalibration: flair must be matched with strategic judgement, otherwise the risk of being undone by a strong attack or tricky conditions is acute.
As Australia seized control of the contest, England’s window for response narrows; the team must quickly regroup and adopt a more measured, intelligent style if they are to recover in the series.
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