With England’s chances of winning the Ashes dwindling, former captain Geoffrey Boycott ripped into Ben Stokes and his team, highlighting some of their failings thus far on the tour Down Under. England fell behind 0-2 in the five-match series after losing the second Test at The Gabba in Brisbane on Sunday.
After giving up a 177-run advantage in the first innings, England could only set Australia a goal of 64 runs on Sunday, December 7. The hosts prevailed by eight wickets, doubling their advantage in the high-voltage series.
Boycott slammed the England players, calling them “up their own backsides” following a poor performance. The former England captain criticised the current team of talking big but failing to deliver on the pitch.
“England talk the talk but can’t walk the walk. With this sort of batting and bowling they couldn’t win an egg cup,” Boycott was quoted as saying by India Today.
Boycott also took a dig at England’s much-publicised long-term planning under captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum.
“Ben Stokes said England had a blueprint and had been planning this tour for four years. What a load of nonsense. We can’t believe anything they say because they do not want to listen to anyone outside their own camp,” Boycott said.
Boycott was particularly critical about England’s batting performance, highlighting how a supremely talented batter like Harry Brook has been throwing his wicket away to lose shots time and again. He got out similarly at The Gabba.
“Here is a guy with talent from heaven but keeps frustrating with brainless, irresponsible strokes. In tight moments he has not helped England win. He bats as if he is only interested in the spectacular,” Boycott stated.
Ollie Pope also garnered criticism for gifting his wicket. While Boycott praised Joe Root for his century in the first innings, he stated that the former England red-ball skipper opted for careless shot selection under pressure in the second.
India
