England's Ashes 2025-26 campaign began in the worst possible way, suffering a humiliating eight-wicket defeat inside just two days in the opening Test at Perth.
Geoffrey Boycott slams 'Brainless' England approach
While Australia celebrated a strong comeback, largely thanks to brilliant performances from Mitchell Starc and Travis Head, former England great Sir Geoffrey Boycott severely criticised the Ben Stokes-led team. Boycott harshly slammed their aggressive approach as 'brainless' and stated that he 'cannot take this stupid team seriously'.
Ben Stokes' attitude backfires amid collapse
Before the series, Ben Stokes had publicly dismissed criticism from former players, referring to them as "has-beens" and insisting that modern Test cricket had progressed beyond their views. Boycott, responding in the wake of England's dramatic second-innings collapse, argued that this attitude had clearly backfired. Despite the adverse conditions, England had earned a valuable 40-run lead on a fast, low-scoring pitch and were once comfortably placed at 100 for 1 in their second innings. However, in a catastrophic turn of events, they lost nine wickets for only 99 runs, allowing Australia to bounce back and easily chase down the 205-run target in a mere 28.2 overs.
"Before this series started Ben Stokes told the world that any ex-player who criticised them or had a different opinion were “has-beens” because Test cricket had changed and the past was irrelevant. Well, from this has been the message is simple: when you keep throwing away Test matches by doing the same stupid things it is impossible to take you seriously. They never learn, because they never listen to anyone outside their own bubble, because they truly believe their own publicity. Now it has bitten them in an Ashes Test, the biggest challenge of all and unless they mount a spectacular comeback, they will regret it for a very long time. It is simple. Brainless batting and bowling lost England the match. A 40-run lead on a fast bouncy low scoring pitch was huge and with Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope together at one stage England were in charge at effectively 100 for one," he told Telegraph.
England's Batting Collapse Fuels Criticism
England's inability to put up a competitive total across both innings was the root cause of Sir Geoffrey Boycott's frustration. In the first innings, despite a fighting 52 from Harry Brook and a quick cameo from Jamie Smith, England could only manage 172 runs, with Mitchell Starc dismantling the top order to finish with phenomenal figures of 7 for 58. Although Australia also struggled, getting blown away for 132—with Ben Stokes taking 5 for 23 supported by Archer and Carse—England's subsequent batting failure squandered their 40-run advantage and the opportunity to tighten their grip on the match.
Boycott Points to England's poor judgment
Boycott specifically highlighted several instances of poor judgment by the English batters in the second innings. These included Ollie Pope chasing a wide delivery for the second time in the match and gifting his wicket, Harry Brook carelessly flashing at a wide ball to fall for a duck, Joe Root attempting an unnecessary drive only to be bowled, and Captain Ben Stokes’ own dismissal to Mitchell Starc.
"But as exciting as this England team can be, they are always only a blink of an eye away from self destruction. Duckett got a good ball but Pope gave it away for the second time in this match driving at a very wide ball outside off stump. How can he not realise it is a sucker ball tempting him to do something daft? England were still in a great position and crying out for someone to occupy the crease with common-sense batting. In comes Harry Brook. Three balls and he flashes on the up at a wide ball and is gone for nought. And to make it worse England’s best batsman, Joe Root, couldn’t stop himself from trying an extravagant drive on the up at Mitchell Starc going across him with his hands well away from his body. Inside edge and bowled. Stokes got a good ‘un from Starc and in no time at all England had gone from euphoria to the depths of despair. England lost the initiative and momentum had swung to Australia in the time it takes to make a cup of tea," he added.