Australia 2025

Day Five - First test. Opus Arena Perth. Day Two.

Disappointment

"It's the hope that kills you". Brian said this more than once on this trip and really, he's right.

Having done breakfast, we are full of hope as we return to the Optus on the train again. However, the day is a real let down.

Having started 50 in front we dismiss the Aussies cheaply for a lead of 50 and then bat again. We make a poor 164, Crawley once again a walking wicket and out for 0 having survived 5 balls this time. Here's the scorecard when we could have done better and the highest run scorer was Atkinson who made a gritty 37 and was number 8! Root out for 8, Brook to a stupid shot and Stokes for 8. Five wickets loss for a paltry 23 runs and all out in around half an hour after lunch and just 34.4 overs bowled.

The Australians just bowled accurately and let the batsmen do the rest i.e. get themselves out. They shared the wickets around between Starc (3) Boland 4 and Doggett (The Dog got 3). They didn't even need Lyon.

Needing just over 200 , Travis Head hit a wonderful century and the Aussies won by 8 wickets in 28.2 overs. Our bowling was absolutely dreadful. Too short, too slow and not enough menace.

To make matters worse, I am sitting next to a female Aussie lawyer from Sydney who originated from Sunderland of all places. Traitor is hardly the word.

Back with the jubilant Aussies, we headed back to the hotel to wash up, had another decent meal at Ivy & Jacks and then retired to the Belgian bar to mull over the tragedy and plan our extra day out. Luckily we had bought tickets for 3 days - or was it because we knew England would collapse?