“He would give his wicket away if he was playing in a county second XI” - Geoffrey Boycott rips into England team after losing Ashes 2025-26

Former England cricketer Geoffrey Boycott has ripped into the England team, led by Ben Stokes, for failing to reclaim the Ashes. Notably, Australia bagged an 82-run win in the third Test to retain the Ashes at the Adelaide Oval on Sunday, December 21.

Writing his exclusive column for The Telegraph UK, Boycott slammed top-order batter Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope for their poor returns in the ongoing Ashes campaign. While Crawley could score 214 runs from six innings at an average of 35.66, Pope amassed only 125 runs from six innings at an average of 20.83.

"Look at some of the players on this tour. Zak Crawley is a hit-and-miss batsman. Mainly miss and then he seduces us with a blistering innings. It should not be enough to keep his place. Improve technique and discipline or you’re out. Ollie Pope is a lost cause because he never learns. I think he would give his wicket away if he was playing in a county second XI. He can’t help himself as he finds ways to get out that I couldn’t dream up. Somewhere in his head there is a self-destruct button,” Geoffrey Boycott wrote in his column for The Telegraph UK.

Furthermore, the former cricketer wrote that it’s high time England needs to stop Bazball and get back to textbook cricket after assessing the situation. He also added that a few players are too complacent and stubborn, feeling there is no chance of being dropped from the squad. 

"I would like this “gung-ho” batting to stop. I realise it has been ingrained over three years but we have to get it out of them. It may take a little time but it can be done and batsmen should still attack when they are in and on top of the bowlers. Nobody wants dour, defensive cricket but let’s get back to textbook cricket with guys assessing the situation, thinking on their feet and batting with discipline," he went on to write.

"They don’t accept the fact that when England come under pressure against the “Big Two” they are found wanting in technique, unable to think on their feet and adjust to the rhythm of Test cricket. Some of them have the same faults and keep making the same daft mistakes because there is no chance of being dropped. Players are too comfortable and that has bred complacency. They are so stubborn and will not listen to anyone, always insisting their way is the only way,” he wrote.

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