The first ball of the highly anticipated Ashes series on Friday sent social media into a meltdown, as celebrities, athletes, and fans alike flocked online to share their excitement and predictions from the electric opening day at Perth's Optus Stadium.
Celebrity Predictions and Tributes
England's outspoken talk show host Piers Morgan wasted no time in declaring his confidence, taking to X early on Friday with a bold prediction. He asserted that England possessed a superior team, captain, and management, and he genuinely forecast a dominant 4-0 or 5-0 victory to bring the urn home.
In a more poignant moment, Brooke Warne, daughter of the late cricket legend Shane Warne, paid a heartfelt tribute to her father. She shared a carousel of childhood photos featuring her dad in his Australian kit on Instagram, set to Billy Joel's 'We Didn't Start the Fire'. Her post, wishing a 'Happy Ashes Day to all that celebrate,' garnered over 3000 likes in just 10 hours, with model Bec Judd among the many commenters.
Stars Enjoy the Perth Atmosphere
The perfect conditions at Optus Stadium did not go unnoticed. Fremantle Dockers players Josh Tracey and Alex Pearce shared videos from their seats, capturing the pristine pitch and brilliant blue skies. WA-born professional golfer Min Woo Lee also joined in, calling the Perth weather "peachy" in his Instagram story.
Aussie comedian Andy Lee posted a video of the ground alongside a smiling selfie with his dad, joking that his strategy of "a beer every wicket" was proving effective. Social media favourites Those Carter Boys, who shot to fame during the 2024 Paris Olympics, flew from Brisbane to Perth specifically for the opening day and captured the first wicket and the roaring crowd for their combined 270,000 Instagram and TikTok followers.
Joining the Buzz From Afar
The digital excitement wasn't confined to those in the stadium. Even those watching from afar contributed to the online buzz. Former Australian Test captain Michael Clarke shared a photo of the Ashes playing on his television from his Sydney home.
Back at the grounds, Emma Lyon, wife of star spinner Nathan Lyon, documented her trip to Optus Stadium for her 16,400 Instagram followers. She issued a playful warning that her feed would be filled with cricket content, but promised there would still be cute outfits.
The collective online reaction highlighted the massive public interest and the electric atmosphere that only an Ashes series can generate, making the opening day in Perth a major event both on and off the field.
