English cricket legend Sir Geoffrey Boycott has launched a ferocious attack on the national team, branding them "stupid" after a humiliating two-day defeat in the first Ashes Test against Australia in Perth. The 85-year-old, in his column for The Telegraph, expressed his utter frustration with a team he claims is trapped in its own bubble and refuses to learn from its repeated mistakes.
'They Never Learn': Boycott's Scathing Verdict
Boycott's fury was ignited by England's dramatic collapse at the Perth ground, where the entire match concluded within just two days. He specifically targeted captain Ben Stokes's pre-series comments where Stokes reportedly dismissed critics as "has-beens" who were irrelevant in the modern game. "When you keep throwing away Test matches by doing the same stupid things it is impossible to take you seriously," Boycott wrote. He added that the team's downfall stems from an insular attitude, stating, "They never learn, because they never listen to anyone outside their own bubble."
The Perth Collapse: A Tale of Wasted Advantage
The match itself was a whirlwind of wickets. The first day saw an astonishing 19 wickets fall, setting the stage for a short contest. On the second day, another 13 wickets tumbled. Despite securing a 40-run first-innings lead on a challenging pitch, England's much-hyped 'Bazball' approach backfired spectacularly in their second innings. They were bundled out, setting Australia a modest target of 205 to win.
While England were in a commanding position at one stage, effectively 100 for one with Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope at the crease, their batting imploded. Boycott pinpointed this as the moment the game was lost, calling it "brainless batting and bowling." He lamented that the team is "always only a blink of an eye away from self-destruction."
Australian Dominance and Series Implications
Australia, needing 205, made the chase look effortless, largely thanks to a blistering century from Travis Head. Head smashed 123 runs off just 83 balls in what Boycott described as a "miraculous" innings, ably supported by Marnus Labuschagne's half-century. Australia clinched victory by 8 wickets, taking a crucial 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
Boycott concluded that while England's aggressive style can be exciting, it becomes a major liability against top-tier teams like Australia and India. He argued that "Bazball, bad judgement, overconfidence" are significant factors in losing important matches, leaving English cricket with serious questions to answer as the Ashes series continues.
