Sir Geoffrey Boycott Calls England “Brainless” After Two-Day Defeat in Perth

Sir Geoffrey Boycott slammed England after their Perth loss, calling their batting and bowling “brainless” and blaming the collapse for the two-day defeat.

England’s Ashes campaign began poorly as they crashed to an eight-wicket defeat inside two days in Perth. This has prompted sharp criticism from former opener Sir Geoffrey Boycott.

Australia turned the match around through Mitchell Starc’s pace and Travis Head’s counterattack. However, England let a strong position slip despite holding a 40-run lead on a tricky pitch. England moved to 100 for 1 in their second innings, but collapsed to 199 all out after losing nine wickets for 99 runs. Australia then chased 205 in only 28.2 overs to complete a win.

Geoffrey Boycott argued that England’s brainless attitude through the match showed poor judgement and said their tactics lacked the basics. He felt England ignored warning signs and repeated errors that had cost them in previous Tests.

“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,” Boycott told The Telegraph.

“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 added.

Geoffrey Boycott Points to England’s Repeated Shot Selection Errors

In the first innings, England posted only 172 despite Harry Brook’s 52. Mitchell Starc dissmissed England’s top order through a sharp 7 for 58. Australia responded with just 132, dragged down by Ben Stokes’ impressive 5 for 23, giving England a valuable 40-run lead.

However, the advantage evaporated quickly as England’s second innings unraveled through a series of poor decisions. Ollie Pope chased another wide delivery, while Brook edged a loose shot after three balls. Joe Root fell trying an ambitious drive. Stokes then lost his off stump to a quality delivery from Starc. England tumbled from a strong position to 199 all out. These batting issues led to more criticism from Boycott.

“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,” Geoffrey Boycott said.

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“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,” the former cricketer concluded.