‘Horror show’: Geoffrey Boycott lashes out at Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum after Ashes collapse | Cricket News
NEW DELHI: English cricket is under scrutiny after a 0-2 deficit in the 2025-26 Ashes series against Australia, with captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum’s ‘Bazball’ approach coming under fire. England lost both matches convincingly, with the first Test ending in just two days and the second at the Gabba ending in an eight-wicket defeat.Go beyond borders with our YouTube channel. REGISTER NOW!Former England player Geoffrey Boycott, writing in The Telegraph, delivered a scathing critique of the team’s performance, pointing out faults in batting, bowling and fielding.
“After just six days of Ashes cricket, England need a miracle,” Boycott wrote.“Brisbane was a horror show: irresponsible batting, bowling too short, too wide or too full and dropped catches,” he said, adding: “With that kind of batting and bowling, they couldn’t win an egg cup, let alone the Ashes urn.”Boycott also criticized the team’s reluctance to accept outside advice despite years of preparation for Australia.“What a load of bullshit… We can’t believe what Ben or his team are saying. None of them want to listen to anyone outside their own camp,” he wrote. “They are convinced that Test cricket has changed so much that only they know anything about the modern game.”He highlighted the repetitive nature of the team’s messages.“All we hear from the captain is attack, and from the coach, keep the faith,” he noted.Individual performances were also criticized, notably those of Harry Brook and Ollie Pope.“So far, in difficult situations, Harry has let the team down…So far the money hasn’t gone down, maybe it never will,” Boycott wrote of Brook.Regarding Pope, he said: “You have to sell your wickets dearly. Too often, Ollie gives them away… He never learns and he never fails to disappoint. »The bowling strategy has also been criticized.“Why don’t we play in the corridor of uncertainty… That’s our strength, not bombarding hitters with short stuff,” Boycott wrote, while noting that Brydon Carse was “trying to make a hole in the middle of the field.”He further questioned Will Jacks’ credentials as a Test player.With England needing to win all three remaining matches to reclaim the Ashes, Boycott described his ‘Bazball’ philosophy as existing in a bubble.
