Justin Langer did not hold back after the Ashes opener in Perth wrapped up in just two days. The former Australia coach wrote openly about his disappointment, saying England’s approach showed little regard for the conditions, their opponents and the very spirit of Test cricket. What stung him even more was the impact the shortened match had on young fans and the people working behind the scenes.
The match had started poorly for both the sides, with 19 wickets falling on the first day. Even with a small 30-run lead, England entered the second innings on slightly easier batting conditions. But instead of settling in, they played recklessly, losing wickets in a rush and collapsing again. Australia needed only 205 to win and finished the chase inside 29 overs, thanks largely to Travis Head’s blazing hundred. What should have been a five-day battle instead ended before the second evening was over.
Justin Langer wrote that England had thrown away a match they had been well-placed to control. He felt that their rushed batting showed little respect for the traditional grind of Test cricket. He shared how children who had been waiting for months to attend day three never got the chance, calling it heartbreaking. For him, the future of cricket depends on kids falling in love with the sport and a two-day Test robs them of that experience.
The disappointment didn’t end with the fans. Justin Langer pointed out that thousands of casual stadium workers lost an entire day’s income because the match finished early. Stadium operators, Cricket Australia and broadcasters lost millions in revenue. Even the food prepared for the expected 50,000-strong Sunday crowd went to waste. That lost income, he said, could have supported grassroots cricket — programs that rely heavily on match-day earnings.
To Justin Langer, the quick finish was not just a poor cricketing performance. It was a chain reaction that hurt fans, workers and the sport’s future.
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