Perth, Australia – The Ashes series is off to a fiery start, with Australia gaining the upper hand against England in the first test at Perth. The second day of the test match saw a dramatic turn of events, particularly for former England captain Joe Root, whose struggles against Mitchell Starc became a focal point.

Root, who had a disappointing first innings, faced further adversity in the second. With England's innings hanging in the balance, Starc bowled a full delivery that shattered Root's off-stump, sending shockwaves through the English camp. The dismissal left England at 76/5, with a fragile lead of 116.

The cameras immediately turned to the commentary box, where Stuart Broad, now an analyst, was visibly distraught. Broad's reaction, a mix of disbelief and disappointment, resonated with many who have seen him battle for England over the years. He appeared to feel the dismissal "in his bones," a stark contrast to the reaction of fellow commentator Matthew Hayden. Hayden, the former Australian opener, watched the replay with a broad grin, embodying the satisfaction of an Aussie veteran who has witnessed similar collapses before.

The contrasting reactions of Broad and Hayden encapsulated the emotional intensity of the Ashes series. Broad, having shared dressing rooms and triumphs with Root, felt the pain of the dismissal deeply. Hayden, on the other hand, reveled in the moment, representing the fierce competitive spirit of the Australian side.

Earlier in the day, England's batting lineup crumbled under the pressure applied by the Australian pace attack. Scott Boland triggered an initial collapse, removing Ollie Pope and Harry Brook in quick succession. Starc then delivered the killer blow by dismissing Root, further compounding England's woes. Root's struggles in the match have been compounded by the fact that he was dismissed by Starc in both innings. In the first innings, Starc managed to get Root squared up with the ball pitching on the leg stump, which resulted in Root giving a thick edge to Marnus Labuschagne.

David Warner has also added fuel to the fire with comments directed at Joe Root, following Root's poor performance in Perth.

The Australian team includes Usman Khawaja, Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (c), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Brendan Doggett, and Scott Boland. England's squad features Ben Stokes (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wk), and Mark Wood.

As the Ashes series progresses, the pressure will undoubtedly mount on Joe Root to regain his form and contribute significantly to England's campaign. The battle between Root and Starc promises to be a captivating subplot in what is already shaping up to be an enthralling series.