Having arrived Down Under to surreal hype around Bazball and how it could unsettle Australia, England were once again humbled in Perth. As their wait for a first Test win in the country since 2010/11 continues, here is a round-up of how the Australian media reacted to England’s two-day defeat:
Death of Bazball – The Australian
The Ashes came into life thanks to an obituary in the Sporting Times in 1882. And The Australian took the same route to run a fake obituary on the death of Bazball.
‘In Affectionate Remembrance of Bazball, which died at the Perth Stadium on 22nd November, 2025, deeply lamented by a large circle of sorrowing friends and acquaintances and anyone who had tickets for day three. RIP NB — The body will be cremated and the ashes put on the first flight to Heathrow.”
England’s Daddy – The West Australian
From the time England landed in Perth for the first Test, the West Australian hasn’t been kind to them. Given his struggles in Australia, they welcomed Joe Root with the headline, “Average Joe” and called the team “Brit of a Laugh”. And after the hosts’ come-from-behind win at Perth, nothing could hold them back.
In a pointed dig at how the English press has been terming the Australian side a “Daddy team” in reference to their age, the newspaper used the headline: “England’s Daddy”, alongside a picture of Travis Head with his wife and child.
The Travertiser – The Advertiser
The Adelaide daily, in a tribute to one of their own, Travis Head, chose to temporarily rename the masthead: “The Travertiser”. It added that the South Australian Cricket Association should have a statue of Head outside the Adelaide Oval alongside those of Don Bradman, Darren Lehmann and Jason Gillespie.
“He’s going to do a lot more in the game than Dizzy [Gillespie] and I have ever done. I was so proud of Travis, as a South Australian,” Lehmann said.
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Beware at the Gabba – The Courier Mail
With Brisbane set to host the next Test, a day-nighter, The Courier Mail warned that the Gabba could be more bowler-friendly than the Adelaide Oval – which traditionally hosts pink-ball Tests. Pointing out that the sun sets earlier in Brisbane than in Adelaide, it said that the entire last session will be played under lights and expected another short Test could eat into Cricket Australia’s revenue. According to various reports, thanks to the two-day finish in Perth, the board is expected to take a hit of £2million.
