Ashwin slams England after big collapse in Ashes opener: 'How reckless will reckless suffice?'

England suffered a shock collapse in the first Ashes Test in Perth, and former India spinner R Ashwin did not hold back while talking about their batting. England went to lunch on Day 2 with a strong lead and nine wickets in hand. It looked like they were in full control. But what happened after that was unbelievable. From 65/1, the team got bowled out for only 164, giving Australia an easy target in the end.

England have been playing the Bazball style for the last few years, where they attack a lot and try to dominate every situation. But in this match, Ashwin felt that it went too far. Even in their first innings, England could manage only 172, with Mitchell Starc destroying them with a seven-wicket haul.

More from First Cricket

India vs South Africa Live Score, 2nd Test Day 2: Muthusamy puts SA in commanding position with gritty ton Pant thunders at Kuldeep and teammates over time wastage on Day 2 of Guwahati Test: 'Ghar pe khel rahe ho kya...'

Ashwin slams England

Ashwin, on his YouTube channel, made a strong statement about England’s approach. He explained that when every shot becomes a risky one, then the meaning of “reckless” itself gets lost. Ashwin also said that he did not want to name players, but many batters nowadays play big shots even when fielders are standing on the boundary. According to him, this is not smart cricket.

“But how reckless will reckless suffice? I am actually thinking, where will the bandwidth of the word ‘reckless’ remain? If you keep putting everything into that bandwidth, how reckless can even reckless get? Because I am saying that, you know, there are many things. I don’t want to take names of players. Even in the Indian team, there will be many next-generation players who, I mean, the fielders are back on the boundary, yet they take the chance, they hit lofted shots,” Ashwin said.

Ashwin also criticised the way England’s batting group failed to support their bowlers. He said that after getting all out for 172 on Day 1, England were lucky that their bowlers brought them back with a 40-run lead. At that point, the batters should have given their bowlers rest and built a bigger total. Instead, they collapsed again and were back in the field quickly, defending just 204 runs.

Quick Reads

View All

'Won't require surgery...': Real reason behind Jasprit Bumrah's absence from 5th Test revealed in new report

PCB bans players from WCL over India-Pakistan match controversy

“As a batting group, how reckless can you be? Because on the first day, you were knocked out for 172, you lost five wickets in the space of 12 or 15 or maybe 20 runs. After that your bowling attack wrestled the initiative back, gave you a 40-run lead. And your first job as a batting unit is to give your bowlers enough rest. And Rahul (Dravid) bhai always says, give your bowlers overnight rest and see how your bowlers respond. Today they came and cleaned up the last wicket. The England bowlers, I am sure, would have wanted to put their feet up, and in no time they are back on the park looking to defend 200, which is paltry,” he added.

Australia were playing without Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, but even then England could not take advantage. Australia needed only 205 runs to win, and Travis Head took the game away with a stunning 123 off just 83 balls. With Marnus Labuschagne also scoring a quick fifty, Australia chased the target easily and won the match by eight wickets.