'You have to play disciplined cricket...': Ex-England captain lambasts Ben Stokes & Co. after defeat in 2nd Ashes Test

Former England captain Michael Atherton remarked that the team haven't played disciplined cricket in the ongoing Ashes series so far and thus, have ended up on the losing side in both games. The Baggy Greens currently have a 2-0 lead in the series.and it will now be a mountain task for the Three Lions to make a comeback.

Atherton on England's chances in third Test

With both Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon expected to be included in Australia's playing XI for the third Test, Atherton believes that it will be a very hard task for England to get a positive result.

“Although England gave it a good go two years ago, it is difficult to grasp at optimistic straws this time. There are too few players in form, and Australia will be strengthened in Adelaide by the return of Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon," Atherton wrote in his column for The Times.

“To win test matches in Australia, you have to play tough, hard, disciplined cricket for long periods of time. England haven’t been able to do that. What will haunt them is the sense that they have not given themselves the best chance to do so," he added.

Botham was also disappointed with England's performance

Another England great who was critical of the team's performance in the ongoing series is Ian Botham. He opined that they could have let the majority of their regulars play in the warm-up match for the pink-ball Test in Brisbane and criticised the team management for not preparing properly for such an important game.

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“Well, they missed the trick as well. They could have sent the team that was going to play in this test. They could have gone to Canberra, or wherever it is they were playing. And they could have gone there, and at least they would have had some experience with the pink ball," Botham said.

“I mean, it just doesn’t make a lot of sense. Do you know what, if I were an England supporter and had paid the money to come here, I’d be asking the ECB… for a refund because this team… is not prepared. I don’t think the bowlers are fit enough, strong enough," he added.

Meanwhile, the third Ashes Test is set to be held at the Adelaide Oval and will commence from December 17.