Follow UsEngland lost the Perth Test after dominating a lot. One could say, in fact, that they were the best team up until the last innings. However, in the Gabba Test, they remained chasing the game and lost the Test. Now, they are 0-2 down, and the Ashes is nearly out of their reach again.
Ian Botham, one of the greatest Englishmen to have played the game, criticised the Brendan McCullum and Ben Stokes-led team management for losing both the matches because of their own faults rather than the other team playing too well.
“Well, they missed the trick. They could have sent the team to Canberra, or wherever it is they were playing. And they could have gone there, and at least they would have had some experience with the pink ball,” Botham was quoted as saying by Times of India.
“You dropped five catches the other day, which cost England. They could have been in front of the game,” he added.
Botham was also very well aware of the kind of efforts the Australian team put in. He praised them saying, “Every single player in that Australian side fought to actually be out there and bowl.”
Leaving his most scathing remark for the last, the English legend concluded, saying, “I mean it just doesn't make a lot of sense. Do you know what, if I was an England supporter and had paid the money to come here, I'd be asking the ECB… for a refund because this team… is not prepared. I don't think the bowlers are fit enough, strong enough.”
England have three more matches to go in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney respectively. Those traditional Test venues might be what the England team needed to turn things around. Who knows? Only time will tell.