19 wickets fell on the opening day (Friday, November 21) of the first Ashes 2025-26 Test between Australia and England at the Optus Stadium in Perth. Reactions started pouring in after the day’s play and former players like Ravichandran Ashwin, Aakash Chopra and Mohammad Kaif exposed the hypocrisy in the cricket community.
Australia ended the opening day in deep trouble at 123 for 9, trailing by 49 runs despite struggling against England’s pace attack. Earlier, Mitchell Starc produced one of the finest spells of his career in the absence of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, taking seven wickets to bowl out England for just 172 runs.
This will be called the death of Test cricket – Aakash Chopra criticizes double standards
Aakash Chopra said on Social Media X (formerly known as Twitter) that such falls are treated differently depending on the circumstances. He said that if this happened on turning pitches in the subcontinent, critics would label it “the death of Test cricket” and the contrary would call it “extreme hypocrisy”.
Aakash Chopra wrote, “Make 19 wickets. This kind of ‘result’ on a subcontinent pitch would mean the death of Test cricket. Extreme hypocrisy?? Again, saying that I’m only following the scores… I haven’t watched the game. Hence the word ‘result’ used. #Ashes2025 #AusvEng.”
Make those 19 wickets
Such ‘results’ on subcontinental pitches would mean the death of Test cricket.
Extreme hypocrisy??
Again, saying that I’m only following the scores… I haven’t watched the game. That is why the word ‘result’ was used. #Ashes2025 #AusvEng
– Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) 21 November 2025
What if the same thing happens in Guwahati tomorrow? -Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin reacted to the opening day in Perth, saying the cricket on display was still “excellent”. He wondered how the reactions would be different if a similar incident had unfolded in Guwahati the next day.
“Only 19 wickets fell in Perth today, but a great day’s cricket. Oh no! What if the same thing happens in Guwahati tomorrow?” Ashwin gave his opinion
Only 19 wickets fell in Perth today, but it was a great day of cricket.
Oh no! What if the same thing happens in Guwahati tomorrow? pic.twitter.com/4NW31yc0Sb
– Ashwin (@ashwinravi99) 21 November 2025
Mohammad Kaif also said that batting struggles have become universal. He compared India’s failure to chase 124 on a turning pitch to the collapse of England and Australia on the fast, bouncy surface in Perth and raised questions about where the reliable Test batsmen have gone.
“Where have all the Test match batsmen gone? India failed to chase 124 on a spin track while the English and Australian batsmen struggled on a fast wicket in Perth on the opening day of the Ashes,” Kaif said.
Where have all the batsmen of the test match gone? India failed to chase 124 on a spin track as the English and Australian batsmen struggled on a fast wicket in Perth on the opening day of the Ashes.
– Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) 21 November 2025
In reply to England’s 172, Australia’s score is 123/9.
In Perth, when Australia was playing at 123 runs for 9 wickets, Ben Stokes took five wickets. However, the hosts failed to gain control as England’s fast bowlers counter-attacked with intensity. Joffra Archer and Brayden Carse took two wickets each.
Alex Carey, Cameron Green and Travis Head scored in the 20s, but none of them were able to convert their starts. Mark Wood and Archer, who consistently crossed the 150 km/h mark, troubled the batsmen with several blows to the body.
Stokes chose to bat first, but left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc demolished the top and middle order, taking a sensational 7 wickets. Debutant Brendan Doggett added two more wickets. England’s opening batsmen Jack Crawley and Joe Root were out without opening the account.
Harry Brook scored 52 runs while Ollie Pope (46) and Jamie Smith (33) scored important runs. Poor shot selection and lack of application was criticized by former players.
Also read: In the first match of Ashes, Mark Wood surprised Cameron Green with a deadly bouncer of 147.1 km per hour, Perth crowd was shocked.