Follow UsEngland lost the first Ashes Test in Perth inside two days despite having a 40-run first-innings lead. An attacking century from Travis Head in the chase completed a humiliating defeat for England to begin the 2025-26 Ashes campaign.
Former England batter Geoffrey Boycott has called Ben Stokes' side brainless for their approach that saw them not even bat out 35 overs in either innings.
"I cannot take this stupid England team seriously anymore," Boycott wrote in his column on The Telegraph.
"Before this series started Ben Stokes told the world that any ex-player who criticised them or had a different opinion were "has-beens" because Test cricket had changed and the past was irrelevant. Well, from this has been the message is simple: when you keep throwing away Test matches by doing the same stupid things, it is impossible to take you seriously. They never learn, because they never listen to anyone outside their own bubble, because they truly believe their own publicity," he penned.
"It is simple. Brainless batting and bowling lost England the match. A 40-run lead on a fast bouncy low scoring pitch was huge and with Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope together at one stage England were in charge at effectively 100 for one. But as exciting as this England team can be, they are always only a blink of an eye away from self destruction.
"Bazball, bad judgment, overconfidence, whatever the reason, it makes winning matches difficult. Against top teams like India and Australia, it is a huge factor in losing," he added.
Head, who was promoted to open the innings, smashed an unbeaten 123 off just 83 deliveries, while Marnus Labuschagne chipped in with a half-century as well as Australia chased down 205 with minimum fuss.
As a result, Australia have a 1-0 lead in the five-match series and England will look to draw level in the second game, a day-night Test, in Brisbane, starting December 4.