Why this is England’s worst defeat in Australia in years

JavaScript must be enabled in your browser to play this video.

  • 658 Comments

The Camfield, which is located just outside Perth Stadium, is reputed to be the southern hemisphere’s largest pub.

English sorrows can be drowned out in great depth. Supporters can relieve their suffering, at least until they wake up on Sunday morning, when they discover that their third Ashes Test ticket is now nothing more than a pricey bookmark.

The first two-day Ashes Test since 1921 and England’s worst Test defeat in Australia in years are both at this venue.

There have been some boonies. Four years ago, Scott Boland shot out for 68. Mitchell Johnson terrorized in 2013 and 2014. Shane Warne punted him out in Adelaide in 2006 after winning the match 551-6.

This has a different impact. England had a fantastic opportunity to win their first away Ashes opener since 1986 and win their first Test there for the first time in 14 years.

Instead, the brand-new Perth Stadium has turned out to be a complete replacement for the English disappointment that permeates Waca. In the past 15 years, this city has only one win.

England had nine second-innings wickets in hand just after 1pm local time and were 105 runs ahead. In their opening innings, Australia had been bowled out for 132 runs. Since the pitch, batters have become an endangered species.

England lost by eight wickets after ten and a half hours. And that included tea for 20 minutes. Chairs have higher folding resistance.

When England arrived for what turned out to be the match’s final session, they were unbeaten. Australia seemed to have a tough 205 target. It was finished in only 28.5 overs. Britain had been trav-balled.

JavaScript must be enabled in your browser to play this video.

England’s cricket team is not terrible. They play a good cricket team that occasionally turns out to be thrilling. A slow-learning, obnoxious, and stubborn cricket team is also present.

Since Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum took over, many of the worst, most agonizing defeats have been self-inflicted.

England made New Zealand follow-up in Wellington in 2023, but they lost. England declared at Edgbaston on day one of the same year’s Ashes, and then had the benefit of Nathan Lyon limping off Lord’s. They both were defeated.

Ravichandran Ashwin was withdrawn from the game to attend a family emergency in Rajkot the following year, winning 224-2 in the match. England was defeated. England needed 73 more to complete a record-breaking chase at The Oval in July of this year, with Joe Root and Harry Brook contributing hundreds. England was defeated.

It’s great that the Bazballers are successful in back-to-back run chases, but it’s also good to win from a dominant position. Stokes frequently claims that the word “ruthless” is inappropriate. Perhaps it’s because his team doesn’t exist.

What Australia could have lost as a result of this defeat is what is most galling.

Through Perth Airport, the West Australian newspaper vilified England and called them crybabies, haughty, and cocky. The West Australian only had to turn on them once for the first time because of their clumsy first-day performance.

Lyon was once more hunched. There was rumor that Australia had chosen the incorrect team. Usman Khawaja and his dodgy backs were in for a con. For allowing Head to start the batting, Khawaja is now a national hero.

Steve Smith, the stand-in captain, might have been asked why he had recorded a monologue about Monty Panesar’s appearance on Mastermind. Instead, he literally slammed Head on the back during the post-game press conference as a winning captain. It echoed the headbutt incident from eight years ago in Brisbane, when Smith and Cameron Bancroft laughed aloud.

Australia will now play their second Test in Brisbane, which will be played on a day-night schedule. The hosts have the luxury of avoiding Pat Cummins’ rushing return.

With his pink ball, Harry Potter would be proud of, Mitchell Starc, who took 10 wickets in Perth, has wizarding abilities.

What direction will England take? They have time to return to Brisbane for a round of golf and the second Test because they were defeated so quickly in Perth.

In Perth, Australia defeated England twice in 67. 3 overs. England hasn’t lost a Test since 1904, nor has it survived so few deliveries.

According to Stokes and McCullum, Canberra is where the majority of the Ashes squad won’t play for a two-day pink-ball match between England Lions and the Prime Minister’s XI on Saturday. Brisbane will be the place of rest for England.

In the name of unity and morality, the chance to tune up under the lights will be largely overused. In Brisbane, there is only one training session for England under the lights.

JavaScript must be enabled in your browser to play this video.

If the batting keeps failing, where might England turn? Although Zac Crawley was backed by an opener from Australia, he only managed 11 balls in this Ashes pair in two innings.

Crawley’s position is intriguing. Although the Kent man’s returns are declining, his standing is boosted by his partnership with Ben Duckett. His 30.22-run average as a Test opener is the worst among any players with 96 innings at the top of the order, including Crawley.

It’s also not a close game. West Indies’ Kraigg Brathwaite leads by more than two runs.

Their choices are constrained if England made a decision to change, which is highly unlikely. There isn’t another squad specialist opener. Will Jacks and Jacob Bethell will start for the Lions in a Lilac Hill match on Sunday against a Cricket Australia XI. If either of them peels off 100, that would be interesting.

McCullum has assured his team that they will adhere to their “blueprint.” That is acceptable. It would be strange to waste three years of work and start over from scratch because having conviction in a method is a sign of strong leadership.

McCullum also stated that this Ashes series will “define” this England team on Thursday, which is something that echoes back in a lifetime.

The Bazballers have the ability to withstand the beating of Perth with a Brisbane blitz.

related subjects

  • England Men’s Cricket Team
  • The Ashes
  • Cricket

More on this story.

    • last 6 hours
    • last 4 hours
    Ben Stokes looks on during England's humbling Ashes defeat by Australia in Perth
    • ten hours ago
    Gus Atkinson and Jamie Smith

Grey Dawning powers to Betfair Chase win

Images courtesy of Getty
Odds-on favorite Grey Dawning won the Betfair Chase at Haydock Park by defeating two-time champion Royale Pagaille.

The field of five kicked off the first domestic Grade One race of the season when Royale Pagaille, a veteran of the past two years, set off in the field of five and won the race for the first time.

Royale Pagaille held the lead until the fence’s final flourishes when Grey Dawning triumphed and reversed the 12-month-old’s result.

Harry Skelton, the winner’s jockey, told ITV Sport, “It has taken him 365 days to persuade everyone what he can do.” He was brilliant in this regard.

Although Haiti Couleurs, the Irish Grand National champion, was traditionally seen as a contender for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, was forced to compete last.

Third place went to Handstands for Stellar Story.

The Jukebox Man, owned by Harry Redknapp, previously won the Betfair Exchange Graduation Chase.

related subjects

  • Horseback riding

More on this story.

Amorim Ignores Premier League Table On His Man Utd Anniversary

As he approaches a match against Everton at Old Trafford on Monday, which will mark his first game as manager of Manchester United, Riku Amorim is refusing to take anything for granted.

Amorim’s tenure as United manager began with a 1-1 draw away at Ipswich, and the Portuguese boss has endured a number of disappointments as manager of the English football giants.

However, recent results have been encouraging, with United currently sitting seventh in the Premier League standings and five games away from losing.

Amorim stated to reporters that it was irrelevant when it was revealed that United would only face three of the top ten in the upcoming ten games. It makes no difference in our league.

Because everything is so tight, the table is irrelevant. That is unimportant.

We never know where the challenging games are if you have access to our team’s history. In the Premier League, that is utterly unimportant.

Read more about Sesko leaving for “For A Few Weeks” here.

Ruben Amorim, the Portuguese coach for Manchester United, is in the picture. Darren Staples/AFP

Since Marcus Rashford scored the opener in the 1-1 draw at United last November, a lot has changed at United.

The forward is one of five United squad players who have left that game.

Amorim said, “I was excited about the fact that I thought the Premier League had a completely different environment,” “the first thought was that.”

“I was already anticipating some issues.” However, it gave the impression that this is the world’s best league. Although it may be the world’s best club, it also has a lot of work to do.

However, an optimistic Amorim said: “I think we are showing that improvement,” but the key is that we cannot forget that we started badly last year.

We must take that into account and play each game like the final or the first one.

“Yes, if you ask me, I expect a team to play better football now, with more control and dominance, and we are more competitive in every way,” I said.

Russia claims more land in Ukraine as US pushes its plan; EU, UK regroup

The United States is exerting intense diplomatic pressure on Kyiv and its European allies to accede to its proposed 28-point plan, which has a strong lean toward the Kremlin’s demands, by Thursday, while Russian forces continue to report advancements in eastern Ukraine.

According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, its soldiers “liberated” the settlement of Zvanivka in Bakhmut in the Donetsk region, allegedly causing Ukrainian forces “significant losses.”

Recommended Stories

list of 3 itemsend of list

Additionally, it released video of Russian forces using glide bombs and tactical ground incursions to close Ukrainian positions in the Zaporizhia region.

The Defense Ministry claimed that a “major enemy defense node” covering more than 14 square kilometers (5 square miles) was established in the Novoe Zaporozhye region, which included a “major enemy defense node” under Russian control.

As Russian troops have been attempting to retake control of the Ukrainian military and threaten energy infrastructure as another brutal winter of war approaches, there are now more than 100 villages in the southeast of Ukraine.

As the Russian military command redeploys its forces to strengthen its offensive, Ukrainian soldiers are also facing fierce attacks in the Pokrovsk region, where fighting is said to be fierce.

In response to Russian air attacks, regional Ukrainian authorities have reported at least one fatality and 13 injuries over the past day. Governor Vadym Filashkin reported that the fatal strike occurred in Donetsk.

Russian forces reported that 89 drones were downed overnight from annexed Crimea and 104 rockets fired from various areas towards various Ukrainian regions, including a ballistic missile launch from Iskander-M ballistic missile, according to Ukraine’s air force. The majority of the drones, according to the report, were Iranian-made.

The Yany Kapu electric substation in northern Crimea was targeted overnight, according to Ukrainian media, with video and images of explosions and strikes appearing on social media. Six fixed-wing Ukrainian drones were shot down by the Russian Defense Ministry early on Saturday, but no confirmed ground hits had occurred.

EU protests US strategy

Despite Washington’s ominous Thursday deadline approaching, Ukraine’s allies have not been supportive of the plan put forth by the administration of US President Donald Trump without consulting them.

Western leaders gathered for the G20 summit on Saturday in&nbsp, South Africa&nbsp, to discuss the US’s unilateral plan to end the conflict in Ukraine, according to a statement released on Saturday.

The leaders of important European nations, as well as Canada and Japan, made a joint statement, saying, “We are clear on the principle that borders must not be changed by force.

The proposed restrictions on Ukraine’s armed forces, which would make it vulnerable to future attacks, “we are also concerned,” they said, adding that any member state approval would be required for any implementing measures of the plan.

Russian President Vladimir Putin could only end its conflict with Ukraine’s “unconditional consent,” according to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

On the summit’s sidelines, he said, “Wars cannot be put on by major powers over the heads of the affected nations.”

In Kyiv, Ukraine, on November 22, 2025, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, First Lady Olena Zelenska, top officials, and service members attend a monument to the victims of the 1932-33 famine.

Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said on Saturday that real peace is based on guaranteed security and justice that guarantees sovereignty and territorial integrity, and that its allies continue to emphasize the need for a “just and lasting peace.”

However, Zelenskyy approved of a Ukrainian delegation’s appointment to lead negotiations with US counterparts in Switzerland on ending the war and appointed his top adviser Andriy Yermak to do so.

Rustem Umerov, the head of Ukraine’s Security Council, confirmed in a post on Telegram that discussions will begin regarding “possible parameters” of a possible future agreement.

He thanked the Trump administration for its mediation and said, “Ukraine approaches this process with a clear understanding of its interests.”

Sergey Ryabkov, the deputy foreign minister of Russia, stated in an interview with the state-run International Affairs magazine on Saturday that he would not rule out the possibility of another meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has supported the US proposal.

Despite the indefinite suspension of another planned round in Budapest and the lack of a consensus at a Trump-Putin meeting in August, he said, adding that Moscow and Washington continue to pursue dialogue.

Chelsea Sink Burnley To Close Gap On Leaders Arsenal

Chelsea stepped up their Premier League title challenge with a gritty 2-0 win against struggling Burnley on Saturday.

Pedro Neto put the Blues ahead just before the interval at Turf Moor and Enzo Fernandez netted in the closing stages.

Enzo Maresca’s side climb to second place and sit three points behind leaders Arsenal, who host Tottenham on Sunday.

The Blues have won eight of their last 10 matches in all competitions, making it a memorable 50th Premier League game in charge for Maresca.

It was the ideal warm-up for Chelsea ahead of a crucial week featuring home games against Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday and Arsenal in the Premier League on November 30.

The west Londoners would drop back down to third place if Manchester City avoid defeat against Newcastle later on Saturday, but regardless of that result, their hard-fought victory in freezing Lancashire added to their title momentum.

Fourth-bottom Burnley have now lost five of their last seven league matches.

Chelsea were without Cole Palmer after the England forward extended his prolonged injury absence by fracturing his toe after stubbing it into a door.

Palmer had been set to resume training this week after two months out with a groin problem.

Adding to Maresca’s issues, fatigued Ecuador midfielder Moises Caicedo was left on the bench after arriving back from international duty on Thursday.

Maresca had complained about Chelsea being given the early Saturday kick-off again.

His mood wasn’t improved in the fifth minute when Blues goalkeeper Robert Sanchez accidently booted the ball into Fernandez’s head, a miscue that left the Argentine midfielder needing a brief concussion check.

Fernandez was able to play on and despite that painful interlude, Chelsea eventually took control.

READ ALSO: Palmer To Miss Three More Chelsea Games After Toe Break

&nbsp, Clinical Fernandez&nbsp,

Chelsea teammates celebrate their first goal by Chelsea’s Portuguese midfielder #07 Pedro Neto during the English Premier League football match between Burnley and Chelsea at Turf Moor in Burnley, north-west England on November 22, 2025. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP)

Neto’s effort from the edge of the area deflected wide before Jamie Gittens lashed over from a tight angle.

Kyle Walker bailed out Burnley on his 400th Premier League appearance with a last-ditch block to stop Gittens tapping in Neto’s cross.

Chelsea’s Trevoh Chalobah was fortunate not to concede a farcical penalty when the defender used his hand to stop Sanchez’s pass inside his own area before returning the ball to the ‘ keeper.

Sanchez appeared not to have restarted play, instead letting Chalobah take the goal-kick so Burnley’s hopes of a penalty were dashed.

Maresca’s men made the most of that let-off to take the lead with a well-crafted goal in the 37th minute.

Marc Cucurella showed a deft touch to control a high ball into the Burnley area before passing back to Gittens.

Lofting a pin-point cross to the far post, Gittens picked out Neto and he delivered with a superb diving header into the far corner.

Neto’s fourth goal this season was almost followed by another for Chelsea as Liam Delap’s drive forced a save from Martin Dubravka.

Gittens ‘ deflected strike flashed just wide early in the second half.

Neto, picked out by Fernandez’s pass, was inches away from doubling Chelsea’s lead as his fierce blast cannoned into the near post.

Unmarked inside the Chelsea area, Zian Flemming wasted Burnley’s best opportunity to snatch an equaliser with a wild shot that cleared the bar.

But Fernandez put the result beyond doubt in the 88th minute, capping a flowing move with a clinical close-range finish from Marc Guiu’s pass.

Strictly’s Gemma Atkinson and Gorka Marquez make separate rooms agreement as he fumes over issue

Gemma Atkinson and Gorka Marquez from Strictly Come Dancing disagreed about the couple’s bedroom’s temperature because Gemma’s biohacking raised the couple’s temperature.

Strictly Come Dancing couple Gemma Atkinson and Gorka Marquez disagreed about one thing most couples can relate to – and it sparked a separate rooms arrangement.

Gemma and Gorka, who met on Strictly, had a falling out around the temperature in their bedroom, with the 41-year-old actress’s biohacks seemingly raising the heat in the room.

According to Gorka, the ideal temperature for their bedroom is between 18 and 21C. But due to Gemma’s biohacks, which include a so-called sauna blanket, the mercury rises to 26C, making it difficult for the Spanish dancer to sleep.

On the podcast episode of Lost in Translation, Gorka stated, “I don’t like to sleep in a hot room, on a hot bed, or when it’s very hot.

She grabs the red blanket, places it on top of the bed, and does what she does. I go to bed already, wearing my glasses, and using a low intensity laptop, so because she doesn’t like it, I turned it down.

“But she goes ahead and places the mat on top of the bed, and she lies there full-power, giving me various intensities, which makes it quite bright red.

For half an hour, she does it both ways. Up and down, it’s like a toast. The bed gets heated up by that red light, and I get the heat that comes from that.

Gemma responded by saying that to combat the rising temperature, Gemma had opened the patio door.

The actress gave a solution and acknowledged the potential disruption to her partner’s sleep.

She responded, “I actually laughed at it. He told me something last night. I had no clothes on, and I had an eye mask on, my blue light blockers, and my red light helmet on. I was unclothed.

You appear to be a corpse on a slab, Gemma, and he just went to me. Just lying there, I was. After all those bio hacks, I had a great night’s sleep.

What will I do next, then, OK. If you have the feeling, I’ll go into the next room, do my biohacks in the spare room, and then go back to sleep.

In the end, the couple’s agreement to end.

Gemma and Gorka met when she appeared on Strictly Come Dancing in 2017, though they were not paired with each other.

The former Hollyoaks star reached the final with Aljaz Skorjanec, as did Gorka with singer Alexandra Burke. They both lost out to actor Joe McFadden and Katya Jones.

The couple has since had two children, the youngest of whom is two-year-old Thiago and the youngest, Mia, six.

Continue reading the article.