Former India player Ravichandran Ashwin has criticized the Ben Stokes-led England cricket team’s Bazball approach after their eight-wicket loss to Australia in the first Test of the ongoing 2025-26 Ashes in two days at the Optus Stadium in Perth.
Ashwin not only criticized England’s batting collapse but also questioned the idea that taking unnecessary risks is acceptable in modern Test cricket. The former India all-rounder boldly claimed that his approach to Bazball was slowly becoming detrimental for England.
Ravichandran Ashwin slams ‘reckless’ England after Perth disaster
Ravichandran Ashwin further pointed out that shots that appear reckless are promoted as fearless cricket, and this mindset cost England the first match of the 2025-26 Ashes against Australia which they had worked hard to control in Perth. They got off to a horrible start on the first day, getting bowled out for just 172 after losing five wickets in a fast-paced spell where they could only score 8 runs.
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But the English bowlers bowled brilliantly. They bundled out Australia for 132 and turned things around by taking a 40-run lead. At this stage, all England needed was for their batters to settle down, capitalize on the advantage and give the bowlers a well-deserved rest.
Is Bazball becoming a handicap?
Ravichandran Ashwin said on his YouTube channel, “As a batting group, how reckless can you be? Because on the first day, you were bowled out for 172 runs and you lost five wickets in the space of 12 or 15 or maybe 20 runs. After that, your bowling attack took the initiative and gave you a 40-run lead. And your first job as a batting unit is to give enough rest for your bowlers.”
But instead of strengthening their position, England’s batters collapsed again. They reached 65 for the loss of a wicket in the second innings, leading by 105, and looked in control. Suddenly everything went downhill as wickets continued to fall, and they were bowled out for just 164.
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Ravichandran Ashwin stressed that England’s bowlers should expect a long break after doing their job so well, but their batting collapse forced them to return to the field almost immediately to defend 204 runs which was always going to be too small a target against Australia in Perth.
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Ashwin finished by saying: “As Rahul (Dravid) bhai always says, give your bowlers a night’s rest and see how your bowlers respond. Today they came to clean up the last wicket. The England bowlers, I am sure, would have wanted to put their feet up, and in no time, they are back on the park looking to defend 200, which is paltry.”
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Australia then took full responsibility. Travis Head made a brilliant 123 from 83 balls, winning the match in style. Australia chased down the target in just 28.2 overs with eight wickets in hand. With the defeat, England now trail 0-1 in the five-match Test series.
Now, the pressure increases on captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum as they head into the day-night Test against Australia, which begins on December 4 in Brisbane.
