A humiliating eight-wicket loss to Australia in the first Ashes Test has drawn the ire of former England captain Sir Geoffrey Boycott. The speed of England’s collapse within just two days has led Boycott to deliver a blistering critique, highlighting what he calls ‘same stupid mistakes.’ He expressed profound skepticism about the team’s mentality and game awareness, stating that such persistent errors make them difficult to support seriously. Boycott singled out particular batting blunders, such as Ollie Pope’s repeated dismissals outside off-stump, questioning the player’s judgment. The rapid loss of momentum was also a key point for Boycott, who noted how quickly England went ‘from euphoria to the depths of despair.’ He further criticized the bowling strategies, suggesting they became predictable and ineffective, especially against Travis Head’s aggressive innings, as bowlers were ‘sucked into’ bowling too many short balls. The performance has reignited debate about the team’s approach and decision-making under pressure.
