Ian Botham pounces on Bazball after England’s two-day Ashes collapse in Perth

England’s Ashes campaign has got off to a nightmarish start, with Sir Ian Botham not holding back after their eight-wicket loss to Australia in just two days in Perth. The defeat raised new questions about Bazball, the team’s ultra-attacking style falling apart against a strong Australian side led by Travis Head.

Botham called the performance ‘terrible’. He said the team needs to rethink their approach before the series slips away. England were outplayed in every session and their batting looked rushed and careless on a lively pitch.

He warned that blindly sticking with Bazball could end in a 5-0 disaster. He said he is tired of hearing players say, “This is how we play.” He joked that if he heard it again, he might throw something at the TV. His frustration reflects the mood among many fans who expected a fight in the opening Test.

Botham also turned his attention to Ben Stokes and Joe Root. He said these two senior players must now take charge. He emphasized that people remember what you achieve in the Ashes, especially in Australia. He pointed out that Root already has 39 Test hundreds, but said both men want to make their mark by winning tough games, not by sticking to a risky template.

He added that if England continue to play this way, they might as well go home as the series could end 5-0. He said he wants to see more pride when players wear the England shirt. His comments followed a sloppy performance that saw England lose wickets in groups and never recover.

Australia, meanwhile, looked sharp across the board. Travis Head led the way with a strong innings that put England on the back foot early on. Their bowlers then kept the pressure on and exposed the flaws in England’s game plan.

What next for England

England now go into the second Test knowing they have to adapt. A more patient style may be necessary if they are to compete in Australia’s conditions. Botham believes the team still has the talent, but he says they need to get their act together quickly.