Australia's cricket establishment has unleashed fierce condemnation following their team's catastrophic batting display on the opening day in Perth. The hosts crumbled to 123 for nine against England's pace assault.
Veteran opener Usman Khawaja found himself at the epicentre of the criticism after back problems prevented him from taking his customary position at the top of the order.
The 38-year-old's fitness troubles emerged after he had enjoyed a round of golf the previous day.
Leading publications across Australia delivered damning verdicts, with The West Australian declaring the batting lineup was in "total disarray" whilst questioning the wisdom of Khawaja's pre-match activities.
Australian media fumed at their own players after a disastrous first day
|REUTERS/THE WEST AUSTRALIAN
The West Australian's front page carried the headline "Mulligan" alongside revelations that Khawaja had completed a full 18-hole round on the eve of the crucial Test match.
His subsequent back spasms forced him from the field during England's innings.
Having departed after the 29th over, Khawaja remained absent for 19 minutes before returning in the 33rd.
Cricket's regulations stipulate that fielders missing more than eight minutes cannot bat until they've been back on the field for an equivalent duration.
With merely seven minutes of fielding completed before Mitchell Starc claimed England's final two wickets, Khawaja was legally barred from opening the batting.
Usman Khawaja was not allowed to open the batting for Australia and was bowled out by Bryndon Carse when he did arrive at the stumps
|REUTERS
Former Australian cricketer Tom Moody expressed outrage at what he termed "poor management" that was "beyond a joke", insisting that just as Starc had spearheaded the bowling attack, "Uzzie" should have led the batting effort.
The Sydney Morning Herald drew parallels with England's 2013-14 humiliation, noting that "Johnson terrorised an ageing England team, Australia's band of veterans is facing a similarly frightful ordeal against one of the fastest pace battalions the old enemy has sent to these shores."
Debutant Jake Weatherald was thrust into the opening role, only to fall for a second-ball duck to Jofra Archer. Steve Smith was forced to bat at number three in the reshuffled order.
Jofra Archer started England's fightback against Australia on day one of the Ashes in Perth | PAMitchell Starc's exceptional performance, claiming seven wickets for 58 runs, represented his finest Test figures and dismantled England for just 172 in 33 overs. This marked the briefest completed innings during England's Bazball era.
Yet Australia squandered their early advantage as Ben Stokes orchestrated a devastating counterattack, capturing five wickets.
Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse contributed two dismissals each during a punishing evening session.
Perth Stadium's 51,000-strong crowd witnessed their team surrender nine wickets in a single day. Australia now confront a perilous second morning, still 49 runs adrift with their final wicket remaining.