England captain Ben Stokes has ordered his team to rapidly process their crushing first Test defeat to Australia and shed all emotional baggage before the series resumes in Brisbane. The visitors suffered a humiliating eight-wicket loss inside two days in Perth after Australia’s revised batting lineup produced a spectacular chase.
Facing a modest target of 205, Australia’s Travis Head delivered what skipper Steve Smith later hailed as “one of the Ashes’ finest innings,” smashing 123 runs from just 83 deliveries. The performance left England’s bowling plans in tatters and the captain admitting to being “shellshocked” by the assault.
“We have to let those two hours sink in, reflect properly without the raw emotion, then move forward,” Stokes stated. “This has to hurt, but we can’t carry this disappointment to Brisbane. We must feel it completely, then release it entirely before the next contest begins.”
Head, unexpectedly promoted to opener following Usman Khawaja’s back injury, confessed to significant pre-match doubts about his Test capabilities after a four-month hiatus from the format. “I questioned whether I still belonged at this level, facing such a high-quality attack,” he revealed. His concerns proved unfounded as he dominated England’s bowling in a display that may secure his long-term position at the top of the order.
England’s coach Brendon McCullum confirmed his squad would maintain their aggressive approach despite the heavy defeat. “Opportunities existed to pressure their bowlers – we simply must execute more consistently,” McCullum said. “Our blueprint remains unchanged. We believe in our methods and the players implementing them.”
The comprehensive victory gives Australia early momentum in the storied rivalry, placing England under immediate pressure to respond when the second Test begins in Queensland.
