"Retirement closer than Sachin's record": Fans mock Joe Root after duck in Perth Test

Joe Root trolled after duck in first Ashes Test [Source: @Crex_live, @TukTuk_Academy, @naive_shrewd/X.com]

Joe Root had a terrible start to the Ashes 2025 series as Mitchell Starc sent him back in the first session of the Perth Test on a duck. Root’s ugly start had the fans questioning his mettle on social media.

After winning the toss, England opted to bat first and regretted it instantly as Mitchell Starc got Zak Crawley in the first over.

He followed it up with another wicket of Ben Duckett as the visitors were two wickets down with just 33 runs on the board.

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Mitchell Starc humbles Joe Root in Perth

Meanwhile, England’s hope lay heavily on Joe Root, who they believe is arguably the greatest Test player of the modern generation.

However, his record in Australian conditions is modest, and once again the right-hander was exposed, this time on the Perth wicket.

A disciplined Mitchell Starc bowled a skiddy back-of-a-length delivery that pitched on leg stump and seamed away sharply, drawing Root into a closed bat face.

A thick outside edge flew to third slip, where Marnus Labuschagne juggled it briefly but stayed balanced and completed the catch. That marked the end of Root’s 7-ball stay on the crease as he walked back on a duck.

Needless to say, Joe Root was mocked on social media. His record of not scoring a century in Australia was already under the scanner. And a duck has made the narrative worse for the Englishman.

"Mitchell Starc to Joe root 🤣 - Retirement is closer than Sachin's record champ!" - @homelander_yyy

Fan tweet [Source: @homelander_yyy/X.com]

"This Ashes series is going to expose Joe Root and finally kill off that so called English agenda of crowning him the "Greatest Test player of the decade"🥀" - @Twi_Swastideep

Fan tweet [Source: @Twi_Swastideep/X.com]

"Joe Root missed his first century in Australia by just 100 runs." - @TukTuk_Academy

"Tbf, Root will probably get a hundred this series. I mean a hundred runs combined over 5 Tests, of course." - @Nealbackup

"My first Ashes visual of 2025 is Joe Root getting squared up to Starc on a duck😂 Tendulkar fan in me says- Good morning😎" - @naive_shrewd

Fan tweets [Source: @TukTuk_Academy, @Nealbackup @,naive_shrewd/X.com]

That being said, for Australia, Starc emerged as the star again with the new ball. However, the game is still not over, as the host team are still a couple of bowlers short in Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, both ruled out with injury.

So far, the Perth pitch has been even and might get better for batting as the game progresses. If England survive the new ball phase, they can put up a good total later on.

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