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While England\u2019s quick collapse in the first Ashes test deprived cricket fans of hours of live action, for many Western Australians it proved to be a boon, after the Perth Stadium donated hundreds of kilos of surplus food to people in need.<\/strong><\/p>\n The match ended in two days, the shortest Ashes test by overs bowled to deliver a result since 1888, allowing the stadium to donate food to schools, charities and women\u2019s refuges, Western Australia\u2019s Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti wrote on Instagram.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen it became clear the match would wrap up early, the Optus Stadium team moved quickly to minimise waste,\u201d Saffioti wrote.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom stacked pallets of fruit and veg, to sandwiches, dairy and bread \u2013 even 450kg of tomatoes now being turned into passata \u2013 this is community spirit at its best.\u201d<\/p>\n More than 51,000 spectators had attended the opening day of the series, 20 pallets of fruit and vegetables, four pallets of sandwiches and salads, two pallets of bread and four pallets of milk and dairy, totalling hundreds of kilos, were donated to OZHarvest after the match, making it the single biggest single donation ever received in Western Australia.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery effort has been made to maximise food recovery,\u201d Mike McKenna, Optus Stadium\u2019s chief executive, said. \u201cOur chefs are busy turning about 450kg of sliced tomatoes into passata, some of the excess milk will become white sauce and lemon wedges preserved for future use. Being able to support those in need is really a silver lining for the stadium team.\u201d<\/p>\n WA\u2019s deputy premier, Rita Saffioti, said the move was \u201ccommunity spirit at its best\u201d, adding that the redistribution of the supplies would aid charities, schools, women\u2019s refuges and individuals in need across Perth.<\/p>\n England\u2019s capitulation on the second day, following a ten-wicket haul for Mitchell Starc and a stunning 69-ball hundred from Travis Head, left Cricket Australia with a $4 million shortfall for the Test, even allowing for the cost savings in not having to open the stadium for the final three days.<\/p>\n The England squad left Perth on Wednesday. The majority of the squad is heading direct to Brisbane \u2013 the venue for the day-night second Test on December 4 \u2013 while three players, Josh Tongue, Jacob Bethell and Matthew Potts, have been drafted into the Lions\u2019 day-night fixture against Australia A in Canberra, starting on Friday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n