The mood surrounding England's Ashes campaign has turned from buoyant to brutal following a humiliating capitulation in the second Test at Brisbane's Gabba. After losing the opening two matches in Perth and then Brisbane, Ben Stokes's team is facing withering criticism from supporters, former greats, and a media that has seemingly lost interest.
A Torrent of Criticism from Fans and Pundits
The most vocal critic, media personality Piers Morgan, led the charge on social media platform X. Having previously talked of 'moral victories', Morgan did not hold back after the latest defeat, posting: 'Come on Eng cricket we need a better fight than this. Australia aren't a better team, they're just playing with more brain cells.' He followed up by questioning the team's mental strength, suggesting captain Ben Stokes would be using much sharper language in private.
The criticism extended to one of England's most storied batsmen, Sir Geoffrey Boycott. Writing in The Telegraph, the former Ashes winner unloaded on the current leadership and their much-vaunted 'Bazball' approach. 'We can't believe anything Ben or his team say,' Boycott wrote. 'They are up their own backsides convinced that Test cricket has changed so much that only they know anything about the modern game. I think Bazball is dead.'
Fellow Telegraph writer Oliver Brown, reporting from Australia, stated that Stokes appeared 'sick of his own team', having been left alone on the 'burning deck'. He noted that while this is not a vintage Australian side, they have looked 'the tougher, more disciplined and more capable team' so far.
Media Silence and Shifting Focus
Perhaps the most damning indicator of England's plight was the reaction of the UK media. Major newspapers largely consigned the Ashes defeat to the foot of their sports pages, if they covered it at all.
The Sun ran a solitary online article focused on a Steve Smith sledge, not the loss. The Mirror prioritised stories about Freddie Flintoff's television appearances. The sports pages of The Telegraph were flooded with coverage of British F1 champion Lando Norris's victory in Abu Dhabi, with the cricket team receiving only a critical double whammy from Boycott and Brown. Sky Sports also provided minimal coverage, with their main piece featuring coach Brendon McCullum admitting the team had 'over-prepared' for the Brisbane Test.
Expert Warnings of Psychological Damage
On the BBC's Test Match Special, former England captain Michael Vaughan expressed deep concern about the long-term impact of the meek surrenders in Perth and Brisbane. 'I worry about this psychological damage of this last two days,' Vaughan said, highlighting the toll on both batters and bowlers.
Commentator Jonathan Agnew pointed to a lack of accountability within the squad, arguing that with no viable replacements pushing for places, players face no repercussions for repeated failures. 'There should be a selection in which these players are being put under pressure, and if you fail time and again doing the same thing, you're gone,' Agnew stated.
The travelling Barmy Army fans remain in Australia, but the wider supporter base has unleashed its frustration online. One fan labelled the performance 'abject', calling for a return to basics, while another declared the team 'embarrassing' and unfit. A third questioned why the ECB hadn't dismissed McCullum, summarising the contest as 'boys vs men'.
With the series poised at 2-0 to Australia, England's team heads to Noosa for a brief break, with coach McCullum promising 'alternative methods' before the third Test. The challenge is now as much about repairing shattered morale as it is about technical flaws.
