<\/p>\n
Stuart Broad was a highly meme-able cricketer and it turns out that talent now extends into commentary. As Joe Root chopped Mitchell Starc on to his stumps during England\u2019s subsidence on Saturday afternoon, Broad summed up the mood of a nation without uttering so much as a word.<\/p>\n
In a clip that has since gone viral, Broad is in the Channel 7 box with his eyes shut, arms folded, letting out an exasperated sigh; the kind of internal \u201cFFS\u201d triggered by a toddler doing the very thing they were just warned against. Watching from the far end as two teammates fall to expansive drives on a bouncy, nippy surface, only to attempt a repeat against Mitchell Star, is a bit like pulling on the cat\u2019s tail. Root did it anyway.<\/p>\n
If they have not done so already, it may be time for England\u2019s players to delete the social media apps on their phones. Shutting out the noise has been one of the tenets of Brendon McCullum\u2019s tenure as head coach and, given the opportunity squandered, there is plenty of it around. Understandably so. Perth really was an all-time howler of a collapse<\/a> that will now test England\u2019s resolve like no other tour. No Pat Cummins and no Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja a passenger with back spasms and Nathan Lyon labouring in the field \u2013 never has there been a better chance to go 1-0 up.<\/p>\n One wicket down and leading by 105 just after lunch on day two, England\u2019s middle order batted like just a few finishing touches were required. Looking to score is their default and a good one, too. But after Scott Boland prised open an end, the loose drives from Ollie Pope, Harry Brook and Root en route to losing nine for 99 were not the shots of three senior players. As for Zak Crawley, the early pair at the hands of Starc sent thoughts back to that ordeal against Matt Henry in New Zealand 12 months ago and a duel lost six times out six. Not that England are going to stop sticking coins in this particular slot machine.<\/p>\n