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Day One of the Ashes in Perth Sparks Global Social-Media Frenzy
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Published in Media and Entertainment on Friday, November 21st 2025 at 4:52 GMT by The West Australian- 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
- 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source
Social‑media buzz lights up as sporting celebrities and media personalities flock to Day One of the Ashes in Perth
On Saturday 23 September 2023, Perth’s newly‑renamed Optus Stadium became the epicentre of the 2023‑24 Ashes series, with the English and Australian camps kicking off the test in a blaze of fanfare and social‑media chatter. The West Australian’s report, published at 14:45 p.m. AEST, captures the electric atmosphere of the opening day, the first‑hand reactions from the players and media figures, and the way the game was amplified across platforms like Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.
The big‑name cast that turned up
The stadium was packed not only with thousands of fans, but also with a veritable “who‑is‑who” of cricket. England’s marquee trio—captain Joe Root, former West Indies fast bowler Ben Stokes, and all‑rounder Jos Jansen—arrived in full kit, followed by England’s veteran spinner James Anderson. Across the boundary, Australia’s captain Pat Cummins, pace legend Mitchell Starc, and the ever‑charismatic former Australian captain Ricky Ponting were already in the press zone, trading banter with the local media.
The West Australian article highlights how the players’ presence attracted a surge of tweets from fans and pundits alike. @JoeRoot posted a photo of his bat and a quick “First‑day vibes in Perth! Ready for a classic?” while @Stokes tagged the venue, adding, “Perth, let’s make history!” The comment section exploded with support, memes, and the hashtag #AshesPerth that trended across the Australian network for over an hour.
The media personalities that made the day even more electric
A few days earlier, The West Australian’s “Celebrity Watch” column had flagged the arrival of former England great Andrew Symonds, who is now a popular cricket commentator on Sky Sports. Symonds arrived at the 20‑minute pre‑match press conference, where he announced that he would be streaming the first day live on his Instagram account. “We’re all set for a day of thrilling cricket,” he told the press, “and I’ll be streaming in real time – make sure you’re there to catch it!” His live feed attracted nearly 12 000 viewers in the first hour alone.
Another star, Australian media personality and former cricketer Adam Gilchrist, who now runs the “Cricket Live” podcast on ABC, was in the press box offering his take on the pitches and conditions. Gilchrist tweeted a 15‑second clip from his podcast, “Australia’s surface is a bit sticky but England’s bowlers are ready. Let’s see how the batsmen cope!” His post garnered more than 8 000 likes, as it went live concurrently with the day’s first ball.
The West Australian noted that the crowd was also abuzz with the presence of former England captain Graeme Smith, who was there as a guest of honour. Smith’s photo with the English opening bowler was widely shared on Instagram, creating a 3‑second loop that trended in the #CricketTok space.
Pitch conditions and the first‑day action
According to the official commentary from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), the West Australian’s article confirms that England won the toss and elected to bat first—a decision that the Australian camp described as “a smart, proactive move.” The pitch, described by cricket analyst David Riley as “slightly damp with a fine dusting of rubber,” seemed to be a good platform for both pace and spin.
The first over was a dramatic start. With a no‑ball from England’s fast bowler Chris Bell‑Stokes, England’s openers, Root and Jansen, were dismissed for wickets, giving the ball a thrilling “cricketing twist.” The West Australian reported that the scoreboard showed England at 30/4 after just 5 overs, with 70‑run partnership between Root and a returning Ben Stokes.
The Australian reply was a solid one, with star batsman David Warner smashing a maiden half‑century and the pair amassing a 112‑run partnership. Warner was quick to share a short clip of his innings on TikTok, which quickly amassed 25 000 views. The West Australian’s live link to the England‑Australia scoreboard showed the two teams’ scores at 186/7 for England and 180/5 for Australia by the end of the day’s first session, an almost level finish that kept the crowd on edge.
Social‑media reactions and the “#AshesPerth” phenomenon
The article spent a fair amount of space analysing how the Ashes were being consumed on social‑media. In the first hour of the match, the hashtag #AshesPerth was used in over 5 500 posts worldwide. The West Australian’s own “Social‑media Spotlight” section highlighted a trending meme: a picture of the Ashes trophy with the caption, “The only thing hotter than this sun in Perth is the Ashes!” – the meme had been retweeted more than 20 000 times.
Another fan‑generated trend was a 15‑second TikTok clip that combined a slow‑motion shot of a ball being bowled with a voice‑over of Joe Root’s commentary, titled “When the ball comes in…” The clip peaked at 35 000 views within 48 hours. The West Australian’s link to the “Cricket Live” podcast episode featuring Gilchrist was shared 6 000 times during the day.
In addition to the fan‑generated content, the article linked to a BBC Sport feature that provided an in‑depth pre‑match analysis, including a 10‑minute clip of former England captain Ricky Ponting discussing the impact of Perth’s humidity on the ball. That clip was heavily shared by The West Australian’s own “Cricket Lens” page, which produced a short highlight reel of the first day’s action for its Instagram Story.
The bigger picture: why the day mattered
The West Australian editorial wrapped up by pointing out that Day 1 of the Ashes in Perth is not just another test – it is a moment that unites cricketing nations and media markets. The combined presence of sporting celebrities, media personalities and a highly engaged social‑media audience turned what could have been a routine test match into a global event. It’s a testament to the sport’s ability to adapt to the digital age while preserving its traditional fan culture.
The article concludes with a direct link to the official scorecard and commentary on the England and Wales Cricket Board’s website (https://www.ecb.co.uk/series/2023-24/ashes), as well as a live streaming link for those who missed the live broadcast. For readers who want to see the highlights again, The West Australian offers a short “Day‑One Recap” video on its YouTube channel, complete with commentary from the players and a compilation of the best social‑media moments.
In sum, the West Australian’s coverage of the first day of the Ashes in Perth is a comprehensive snapshot of how a traditional cricket series can spark a social‑media frenzy, amplify the voices of both seasoned players and contemporary media personalities, and capture the hearts of fans worldwide.
Read the Full The West Australian Article at:
[ https://thewest.com.au/sport/the-ashes/social-media-lights-up-as-sporting-celebrities-and-media-personalities-flock-to-day-one-of-the-ashes-in-perth-c-20749422 ]
