England will be left “damaged” by their first Test capitulation against Australia, according to former captain Michael Vaughan.
The visitors were in a strong position just after lunch on Day 2, when they were 1-65 leading by 105 runs on what appeared to be a difficult Perth Stadium surface.
But after losing 9-99 before tea – only saved by a 50-run partnership by bowlers Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse – they then watched Travis Head do the unthinkable, blasting a 69-ball century to win the hosts the match before the end of the day.
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“This is going to hurt England, it’s going to damage them I think,” Vaughan said on Kayo Sports’ live Ashes coverage.
“I thought after yesterday’s play England had opened up a few cracks in the Australian batting lineup.
“Ben Stokes won’t really understand what’s happened.
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“We’re talking four-and-a-half hours of cricket where his team have gone from not a dominant position, but you’re in control of a game.
“They had the chance yesterday (to bury Australia) and they lost 5-12 down the back end of the innings.
England captain Ben Stokes reacts after bowling during day two of the First 2025/26 Ashes Series Test Match between Australia and England at Perth Stadium on November 22, 2025 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“They have the tools to be really competitive, but you can’t be competitive without brains.
“You can’t just play one way, which is what they’ve done, and they’ve come unstuck today and they came unstuck yesterday.”
Vaughan argued his nation made a series of errors in the most recent Ashes, tied 2-2 in England, that were repeated this weekend.
9/105! England Collapse after lunch | 04:20
“I actually admire the England team for going about it their way,” he said.
“But ultimately the end of an Ashes series like this… they had an Ashes series at home in ‘23 – they should have won that series.
“I felt they were the better team in that series – they didn’t win because they’ve made some errors in the first Test and the second Test.
“You go to Edgbaston, second innings bowled out Nathan Lyon gets 5fa.
“Go to Lord’s in the second Test … England get bowled out they lose that game, 2-0 down in an Ashes series.
“They’ve made the same mistakes here – First Test, away from home and their batters let them down again by playing that expansive game.
“You remember Lord’s when they had to go to the bouncer theory, England were 1-185 – bowled out 30 overs later.
England’s captain Ben Stokes reacts in the field on day two of the first Ashes cricket test match between Australia and England in Perth, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025.(AP Photo/Gary Day)Source: AP
“Here, two years later, they’ve done exactly the same in the first Test of a massive series.
“They were always going to be judged on these seven weeks.
“They are going to have to pick themselves up… ultimately this is a big, big blow for this group of England players.”
He later added on Twitter: “England made huge mistakes with the Bat in 2023 at the start of Ashes series … they went 2-0 down.
“They have made exactly the same mistakes here … it’s bloody disappointing.”
Meanwhile former newspaper editor turned TV host Piers Morgan was left angered by the collapse.
“This is painful,” he tweeted, less than two hours after posting “we’re going to win”.
“I have a Head-ache. Incredible century by Travis Head – given the match situation, one of the great Ashes innings. But jeez, England just haven’t turned up today – so disappointing.”