Vaibhav Garg’s Column: “England Have Lost Their way”

England’s humiliating loss, by an innings and 14 runs, in the 3^rd Ashes Test has left several former cricketers fuming. On Tuesday, Australian pacer Scott Boland wreaked havoc at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to bundle out the visitors for 86. The 32-year-old debutant registered the figures of 6 for 7 in just four overs, including the wicket of captain Joe Root. The victory allowed the Aussies to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series and also retain the Ashes urn.

It turned out to be the fastest for either Australia or England to have sealed the urn in the history of the Ashes. Former captains Michael Vaughan and Ian Botham were massively disappointed by England’s ‘embarrassing’ show Down Under. This team is collapsing very badly in batting and are losing the matches. It’s not easy in these times, the England side didn’t have a great preparation but if you want to look for excuses, you can. For some time now, this Test match team has not been good enough.

England have not focussed enough on the Test match team, the focus has been more on white-ball cricket – and it delivered a World Cup (win in 2019), But we’re not a good enough cricketing nation to take our eye off the ball in Test cricket and expect to arrive and play (in Australia). I would say with the group that I’ve seen and the way they’re playing, I’d be amazed if (Australia) don’t beat England in English conditions in 2023. The record of 54 ducks in a calendar year for an English team was set in 1998 just before the English team officially became the worst team in the world. It has now been equalled.

They gave the appearance of two men with the bit between their teeth and with a point to prove. A couple of strong drives down the ground from them both, added to the feeling that maybe, finally the best two batsmen in the team might put the hammer down and produce a performance at the death .Instead, Stokes was cleaned up neck and crop by Mitchell Starc who nipped one back through the gate to clip the top of middle stump and the collapse began. England team would surely witness a whitewash if they do not change the style of their batting and bowling. They have to prove that they could still beat Australia in Australia’s home ground.

I personally felt that in this England side, Joe Root is only scoring runs and others are getting dismissed early. They are not getting perfect start by the openers, the middle-order is looking weak and in the 3rd Test they were dismissed for 68 in the Second Innings. They are not adapting to the Australian conditions and are losing very badly. Wasim Jaffer also had trolled Former English captain Vaughan for his harsh tweet against India, when the team got out to 92. Australia were very impressive in the Ashes in all the three departments. Boland took 6 wickets on debut in the second innings.

It is pretty insane. Just a awesome few weeks, so proud of the group as everything clicked and everything worked out. Thrilled for Scott Boland playing in front of his home crowd here. We have been relentless. The bowlers have just turned up and owned their areas outside off-stump. There have been big partnerships, everyone’s performed, everyone’s contributed – it’s a great feeling. The batsmen have left well and have been brave when the opportunities have presented themselves.

Neser was disappointed after bowling so well last week to not get a chance in this game. But we have a big pool to pick from. We knew whoever steps in will do a great job. We were really confident that Scotty would do a great job; maybe not 6 for 7 (laughs). Any Ashes series against England is where you make a mark in Test cricket. The last series was 4-0, the one before that was 5-0, and it is a chance for us to cement our identity in the next few years.