Former England fast bowler Stuart Broad has addressed the viral moment that captured his dismay during England's dramatic collapse in the first Ashes Test against Australia in Perth. Broad, now a commentator for Channel 7, was caught on camera closing his eyes and sighing deeply as Joe Root was dismissed, a moment that symbolized England's rapid loss of control in the match. The footage quickly spread across social media, becoming a meme and encapsulating the feelings of many England fans.

The incident occurred during England's second innings at Optus Stadium. After taking a 40-run lead on a challenging pitch, England appeared to be in a strong position. However, a sudden batting collapse saw them lose several wickets in quick succession. Ollie Pope, Harry Brook and Joe Root were all dismissed in similar fashion, chasing deliveries outside off stump. Root's dismissal, in particular, triggered Broad's visible reaction in the commentary box.

Broad was seated next to Matthew Hayden, who was understandably buoyant about Australia's resurgence. The contrast between the two commentators' emotions further amplified the moment. Broad's reaction has been viewed millions of times across various social media platforms.

Speaking about the viral moment, Broad explained that his reaction was genuine and reflected the disappointment he felt at seeing England squander their advantage. He said he "just needed 20 seconds to close my eyes and hope it wasn't true, hope it wasn't happening". He acknowledged that "a lot of England fans were feeling that exact emotion at the same time". Broad also quipped, "The Aussies are revelling in it because they hate me so much over here, they're really feeling the pain that I was feeling when Rooty chopped it on".

Broad further reflected on England's inability to capitalize on their strong position, a recurring theme in past Ashes series in Australia. He said, "Credit to Australia they were absolutely superb, but England just opened that door". He also highlighted the pressure on new players in such situations, recalling the moment Jamie Smith walked out to bat amidst the collapse and thinking, "you've never been in a situation like this before, you've never felt what is going on".

The loss in Perth was particularly disappointing for England, as it saw them surrender their advantage and hand the initiative to Australia. Travis Head's stunning century further compounded England's woes, enabling Australia to secure a comfortable victory and take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. The match concluded in just two days, with some critics questioning England's "Bazball" approach after the defeat.