The frenetic opening to the 2025-26 Ashes Series between Australia and England has set the cricketing world alight, including accusations of hypocrisy from the subcontinent.
With the hard and bouncy Perth pitch in the spotlight as it often is each summer, the nineteen wickets to fall yesterday was the most seen in an Ashes opening day since 1909 when 20 wickets fell at Old Trafford in Manchester.
According to Wisden it was also the equal fifth most wicket to fall on an opening day of any post-war Test match.
While most conversations have pointed to excellent pace bowling and questionable batting as the source of the day one carnage—not the Perth pitch—a steady flow of criticism has suggested the narrative would likely be very different if the match was being played in India rather than Australia.
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“17 wickets fall in a day at Eden Gardens, India: terrible pitch, what a shame, this is not what cricket lovers want to see. 19 wickets fall in a day at Perth, Australia: true pitch, what brilliant bowling, this is exactly what cricket lovers want to see,” posted one critic on X.
“If spinners had taken all 19 wickets on Day 1 of a Test match in India people would call it the worst pitch ever. But because fast bowlers took them in Australia, it suddenly becomes a ‘proper Test-match pitch’,” posted another.
“A Test match in India ends in 3 days. Experts blame the pitch and say India is ruining Test cricket. Today, on the first day of the Ashes 19 wickets fall in just 71.5 overs on a ‘good’ pitch, and the experts? Silence. This hypocrisy is unreal,” commented another.
Speaking after play star Australian pacemen Mitchell Starc put the carnage down to outstanding bowling from both sides, having earlier delivered his own career best Test figures of 7-58.
“I think both teams bowled really well,” Starc said.
Retired Australian paceman Jason Gillespie also defended the pitch after stumps, pointing the finger of blame squarely at the batsmen from both sides.
“It’s been really consistent bounce throughout the day, I just think some of the batting today is the worst I’ve seen in Test cricket,” Gillespie said on The Fast Bowling Cartel podcast.
It remains to be seen if the Ashes destruction continues on day two when Australia resumes at 9-123 still trailing England by 49 runs—and whether this match will even make it into day three.
A Test match in India ends in 3 days. Experts blame the pitch and say India is ruining Test cricket.
— Shanu (@Shanu_3010) November 21, 2025
Today, on the first day of the Ashes, 19 wickets fall in just 71.5 overs on a "good" pitch, and the experts? Silence. This hypocrisy is unreal.🤫 pic.twitter.com/HovUpsC9kl