Where did England go wrong in dismal bid to regain Ashes?

Analysis

The Ashes series has come to an abrupt end for England, with Australia retaining the urn in dominant fashion. The visitors suffered three comprehensive defeats in the first three Tests of the five-match series, leaving many to wonder where it all went wrong for captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum.

Poor Planning and Preparation

One of the major concerns surrounding England’s performance was their lack of preparation before the series. The team played only one warm-up game, an intra-squad contest against the Lions, which was deemed insufficient by many experts. This lack of preparation was evident in the team’s performance, particularly in the first Test, where they were bowled out for 132.
Sky Sports‘ Michael Atherton pointed out that England’s decision to head into the series without adequate preparation was a major mistake. “They had so little cricket before the first Test, I don’t think they were match ready for an Ashes tour,” he said. “Coming to Australia is a different cricketing culture, the crowds here, the kind of ferociousness of the experience, I think you need to be game ready and game sharp for it. They weren’t.”

Muddled Selections

Another area of concern for England was their selection policy. The team showed faith in players who were struggling with form, particularly Ollie Pope, who averaged a woeful 17.62 in the series. Pope’s struggles at No 3 were a continued source of frustration, and it seems likely that Jacob Bethell will replace him in the upcoming Test in Melbourne.

Devastating First Test Defeat

The first Test defeat was particularly devastating for England, as they squandered a promising start to the series. After taking a five-for on the first evening, Ben Stokes’ side extended their 40-run advantage on first innings to 99 by lunch on day two. However, two sessions later, they had lost the Test match by eight wickets.
The collapse was all the more shocking given that Australia held a similar 102-run advantage for the loss of one wicket on day three of the third Test in Adelaide. However, far from crumbling to defeat, Australia extended their advantage to 356 by stumps and ultimately set England a record chase of 435.

Conclusion

In conclusion, England’s dismal bid to regain the Ashes can be attributed to a combination of poor planning and preparation, muddled selections, and a devastating first Test defeat. The team’s lack of preparation before the series was evident in their performance, and their selection policy was also a major concern. As the series comes to an end, it remains to be seen what changes will be made to the team ahead of the next Test.

Source: Link