Legendary cricketer Ian Botham has slammed England’s performance in the first Ashes Test, criticising the team’s overly aggressive approach even when a more cautious strategy is required. His comments came after the Three Lions were defeated inside two days at Perth’s Optus Stadium.
Botham urged the England team to “pull their socks up” and quickly adjust their game plan against a strong Australian side. “It was horrendous, there’s no other word for it. England need to fire up and fire up quickly. I’m fed up of hearing, ‘this is the way we play’. If I hear it once more, I think I’ll throw something at the television,” Botham told PA News Agency.
The former all-rounder warned that if England continued with the same approach, they could face a 0–5 whitewash in the five-match series. “If that’s the way you play, you might as well go home now because it’s going to be 5–0. They probably won’t like me saying that, but they need to get their heads around it. I want more pride when I see people pulling that sweater on,” he added.
Botham also highlighted the stakes for England’s star players Joe Root and Ben Stokes, noting that this tour could be their last chance to make a mark in Australia. “People remember you for what you’ve done over here. In Joe and Ben we’ve got two world-class players – Joe’s got 39 hundreds for goodness sake – but they are desperate to make an impression here. You can only do that by winning. They need to get the monkey off their back,” Botham said.
He emphasised the importance of victories Down Under, noting that winning in Australia commands respect and is an experience unlike any other. “They are the two who will want this the most because a lot of the others will get another bite at the cherry. Winning over here feels really, really good, and it means absolute respect. That alone should drive England,” Botham added.
The much-anticipated second Test between Australia and England is scheduled to begin on Thursday, December 4, at The Gabba in Brisbane.
