Broad's viral reaction as Root dismissal shocks Perth Ashes opener
Broad's viral reaction as Root dismissal shocks Perth Ashes opener
England collapse in Perth as Travis Head powers Australia to a 1-0 lead; Broad's stunned reaction goes viral.
England looked primed for a fight in Perth after taking a 40-run lead, but a brutal collapse left them 65 for 1 and then 88 for 6 on a lively Optus Stadium surface. Travis Head answered with a blistering 69-ball century to spark Australia’s charge, letting the hosts seize control of the match and move 1-0 up in the five-match series. The game eventually concluded inside two days, with Australia chasing 205 in the final session and completing an eight-wicket victory.
The moment that lit up social media came when Joe Root was bowled by Mitchell Starc, and former England quick Stuart Broad was shown in the Channel 7 commentary box with his eyes closed in disbelief. The clip, shared by Seven’s cricket account, racked up about 2.5 million views by Monday morning and later became a widely circulated GIF as fans reacted to the drama.
Broad told the Sydney Morning Herald that his reaction mirrored the emotions of supporters back home, noting that the Ashes are defined by such swings and the raw passion they provoke. As Australia collected a 1-0 lead, the series looked set to deliver more high-stakes moments and plenty of talking points for the weeks to come.
Cover image source: Ashes Test series: Brendon McCullum tells England fans to ‘keep the faith’ after Perth capitulation 🔗
