England's Ashes disaster cost Aussie cricket millions. Now a heartwarming bright side has been revealed in a stunning video - but fans have used it to slam Ben Stokes's team

39 minutes ago 2
  • First Ashes Test in Perth was over inside two days

By ANDREW PRENTICE, SPORTS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA

Published: 01:19 GMT, 26 November 2025 | Updated: 01:19 GMT, 26 November 2025

Aussie cricket fans have used an uplifting video of the food left over from the first Ashes Test in Perth being donated to the needy as an excuse to mercilessly skewer the English team.

The match only lasted two days instead of five, costing Cricket Australia millions in lost ticketing revenue as the tourists' disastrous second-innings collapse and Travis Head's swashbuckling century combined to deliver the shortest Ashes contest since 1921. 

Now homeless and struggling Western Aussies are the big winners after a stunning video showed truckloads of food being taken away from the ground to feed them.

'Thanks to the fast-finishing Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, hundreds of kilos of fresh food have been donated to those in need,' Western Australian Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti posted on Instagram.

'When it became clear the match would wrap up early, the Optus Stadium team moved quickly to minimise waste.

'Given the size of the donation – the biggest provided by the stadium to date – OzHarvest partnered with two other local organisations, SecondBite and Foodbank WA.

'They combined to distribute the products to charities, schools, women’s refuges and individuals in need across Perth.

England skipper Ben Stokes is pictured as his team threw away their dominant position in the first Test to suffer a crushing defeat in just two days of play

The loss of three days of play cost Cricket Australia a fortune - but a bright side has been revealed, with a video showing all the leftover food at Optus Stadium being packaged up for distribution to struggling Aussies (pictured) 

Travis Head is pictured after scoring a blistering 123 from 83 balls to put England to the sword 

'From stacked pallets of fruit and vegetables, to sandwiches, dairy and bread - even 450kg of tomatoes now being turned into passata - this is community spirit at its best.'

Cricket fans were quick to respond to the WA deputy premier's post - and didn't miss the opportunity to mock the under-fire tourists.

One declared England had achieved 'another moral victory after curing starvation', with another posting Ben Stokes' men were 'helping cure world hunger.'

A third suggested Travis Head should receive a 'Nobel Peace prize' following his century in Australia's second innings. 

The development comes as Cricket Australia was estimated to have lost more than $3million from ticket revenue for days three and four.

A record 101,514 fans attended the first Test – 51,531 supporters made their way through the gates on November 21, then 49,983 last Saturday.

The figures surpassed the record set of 96,463 in Perth last year.

Day three in Perth was also close to sold out - but a ball wasn't bowled.

One Aussie cricket fan joked Travis Head should receive a Nobel Peace prize after his heroics on day two at the crease

Another poked fun at the tourists, suggesting England had achieved 'another moral victory after curing starvation'

A third savagely posted that England are so bad at Test cricket they are 'helping cure world hunger'

At their annual general meeting in October, CA announced a loss of $11.3million.

Meanwhile, Foxtel confirmed their broadcast was the most watched opening day of a first Test in their pay TV history.

Free-to-air network Channel Seven also reported strong ratings for their coverage on day one.

The second Ashes Test begins in Brisbane at the Gabba on December 4. 

Australia only need to draw the series to retain the urn. 

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