The Ashes

Stephan Shemilt
Chief Cricket Reporter at Lilac Hill

Image source, Getty Images

Jacob Bethell could not make a compelling claim for inclusion in England's Test side, making 44 for England Lions against a Cricket Australia XI at Lilac Hill.

Bethell was released from the Ashes squad on Saturday to join the Lions on the second day of their four-day game, alongside Will Jacks and Matthew Potts.

The left-hander resumed on one on Sunday morning and batted calmly against an attack including Australia Test bowler Jhye Richardson.

Batting at number three, Bethell added 60 for the third-wicket with Jacks until the Surrey man edged the spin of Nivethan Radhakrishnan to slip on 30.

Bethell was at the crease throughout the morning session, only to clip seamer Xavier Crone to mid-wicket.

Set 232 to win, the CA XI ended the penultimate day on 90-0. Josh Inglis, a possible option for Australia in the second Test if Usman Khawaja does not play, reached 44 not out opening the batting.

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BBC sports editor Dan Roan has been speaking to England supporters in Perth, some of whom have traveled thousands of miles for one, two-day Test.

"Disappointed, angry," said one fan. "Yesterday they showed no care.

"[I have spent] A lot of money.

"Feeling angry, disappointed. We are better than that. I want a little bit more fight and smartnesss.

"I have always wanted to do the Ashes for years. I thought this was the one to do. I am just absolutely devastated. I feel I have been left down."

Other fans were more forgiving of England's performance.

"Defintely not angry," another said.

"A little bit down that we gave in so easily but we have time to enjoy ourselves the next few days now. A few things planned."

Another added: "They're sportspeople. They don't have an obligation to make my holiday enjoyable. I am sure they want to win as much as we do.

"I don't think it's trying hard or not trying hard."

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Image source, Getty Images

Former Australia opener David Warner says Travis Head is capable of continuing to bat at the top of the order for the rest of the Ashes series.

Left-hander Head scored a thrilling century as a makeshift opener to seal Australia's victory on day two of the first Test against England in Perth.

Usman Khawaja, 38, struggled with back spasms throughout the Test and was unable to fill his usual opening spot in either innings.

Australia have struggled for a settled opening pair in Tests since Warner's retirement in January 2024 he said Head has previously considered the move.

"He definitely did think about it and I definitely do think he can do it," Warner told The Age, external.

"The thing is in Australian cricket is we haven't really had an opener to cement that position."

Warner opened 41 times with Khawaja in Tests while he and Head, who is a regular opener in white-ball cricket, did so 17 times in one-day internationals and eight times in T20s.

Khawaja was dismissed for two when he did bat in the first innings and is averaging 13.88 since the start of June.

Head is a batter more in the Warner mould - an aggressive left-hander who scored 123 from just 83 balls on Sunday.

"I think he could do that job, and we've seen first hand here what he can do," Warner said.

"Is he going to be consistent? I think he can be.

"It's the match-winning performances that are the ones you've got to look at. Then it's upon the selectors to have the confidence to stick with him and do that."

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Image source, Sunday Times

The Sunday newspapers do not make pretty reading for England with Ashes coverage on the front and back page of the local Sunday newspapers.

The media appeared to be turning on the Australia team after day one but now England are described as "pathetic Poms" in the Sunday Times.

The Australian, external described day two as "TravBall murders Bazball".

The Daily Telegraph says Travis Head, whose sensational century took Australian to victory, should open the batting throughout the remainder of the series in place of Usman Khawaja.

Follow every moment of the Ashes with our rolling page of news, views and updates.

Image source, Getty Images

Australia stand-in captain Steve Smith hailed Travis Head's explosive 69-ball century that won Australia the first Ashes Test on Saturday as one of the best he had ever seen.

It was the third-fastest ton ever by an Australian and powered the hosts to an eight-wicket victory over England in Perth.

Head surged to three figures off just 69 balls, crunching 12 fours and four sixes after being elevated to the top of the order in place of the injured Usman Khawaja.

It matched the 69-ball ton hit by David Warner against India in 2012 and is third only to Adam Gilchrist's 57-ball blitz against England in 2006 and Jack Gregory versus South Africa more than a century ago.

The fastest century of all time is Brendon McCullum's 54-ball fireworks in Christchurch against Australia in 2016.

"It's got to be right up there. Wow. That was incredible to witness," said stand-in skipper Smith.

"That innings from Travis Head was out of this world. He played some outrageous shots and even when he mistimed a few, they still seemed to find the gap.

"It was just one of those days where everything went his way, and he made the absolute most of it to get us home."

Stephan Shemilt
Chief Cricket Reporter at Perth Stadium

Image source, Getty Images

Will Jacks, Jacob Bethell and Matthew Potts have left England's squad on day two of the first Ashes Test to join England Lions' game against a Cricket Australia XI at Lilac Hill.

The trio were left out of the XI for the series opener and have been added to a Lions' game that began on Friday.

Somerset wicketkeeper James Rew, who was in the England squad for the Test against Zimbabwe in May, has moved in the opposite direction to provide fielding cover at Perth Stadium.

Off-spinner Shoaib Bashir and pace bowler Josh Tongue, also left out of the England team for the first Test, have remained with the Ashes squad.

England do not play between the first Test here and second Test in Brisbane, with a Lions team travelling to Canberra to play a two-day pink-ball match against the Prime Minister's XI.

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