Sunil Gavaskar Blasts England's Batting Attitude in Ashes Defeat
Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has launched a scathing attack on England's batsmen following their 4-1 Ashes series loss to Australia. Gavaskar described their approach as a "couldn't-care-less" attitude that shows a lack of responsibility to the game.
Only Joe Root Values His Wicket, Says Gavaskar
Gavaskar pointed out that Joe Root stands alone in the England Test squad when it comes to putting a proper price on his wicket. He wrote in his SportStar column that other batsmen seem uninterested because they know their places in the team are secure.
"Valuing playing for your country and putting a minimum price of a century on your wicket is something only the great Joe Root does," Gavaskar stated. "The others could not be bothered, as they knew they were unlikely to be left out of the squad."
Modern Cricket's Financial Security Breeds Complacency
The former India captain acknowledged that modern cricketers earn good money through central contracts and T20 leagues worldwide. He said this financial security removes the worry about putting food on the table, which existed in earlier eras.
"What the media calls fearless cricket today often looks more like couldn't-care-less cricket," Gavaskar observed. "With guaranteed income, there's less fear about losing a Test place and returning to less lucrative first-class cricket."
McCullum's Influence Wore Off Quickly
Gavaskar recognized that coach Brendon McCullum brought freshness to England cricket initially. However, he noted that once this novelty faded, England's batsmen struggled when pitches offered assistance to bowlers.
The criticism comes amid England's policy of rarely dropping batsmen under McCullum and captain Ben Stokes. This has allowed players like Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope to have extended Test careers despite modest batting averages.
Gavaskar Questions England's Wholehearted Effort
While not begrudging modern cricketers their earnings, Gavaskar emphasized that players should leave the game in a better state than they found it. He expressed disappointment when cricketers forget this responsibility.
"Winning and losing are part of sport, but the effort has to be wholehearted," Gavaskar said. "How many in the England team that lost the Ashes series can put their hands on their hearts and say they gave everything, both physically and temperamentally?"
The batting great concluded that England's defeat surprised only their own fans, while others saw it coming given their approach to Test cricket.
