The England cricket team has risked the wrath of its former stars and supporters after key players, including Joe Root, were spotted enjoying a round of golf just days after a demoralising eight-wicket defeat in the first Ashes Test against Australia in Perth.
A Day on the Green After a Day to Forget
On what would have been the fourth day of the Test match at Perth Stadium, the tourists were granted unexpected free time after Australia wrapped up a comprehensive victory inside two days. Rather than dwelling on the loss, former captain Joe Root was joined by teammates Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, and Will Jacks for a session at the picturesque Joondalup Country Club.
In a moment of cruel irony, reported by The Western Australian, the players were met by a group of ducks on the 18th green. This served as an uncomfortable reminder of their batting failures, with both Root and Crawley having been dismissed for ducks in the first innings. Crawley suffered the same fate for a second time in the match during England's second innings.
Meanwhile, other squad members, including bowlers Jofra Archer and Shoaib Bashir The decision to play golf has intensified the existing criticism surrounding England's preparations for the Ashes series. Former captain Michael Vaughan had already opened a war of words with current skipper Ben Stokes after criticising the team's choice of warm-up venue at Lilac Hill. Stokes hit back by branding Vaughan and fellow legend Ian Botham as 'has-beens'. However, the controversy deepened with the revelation that none of the first-team players would participate in a crucial pink-ball practice match against the Australian Prime Minister's XI in Canberra. Vaughan labelled this move 'amateurish' in his Telegraph column, stating, "That staggers me. I'm sorry, but it's amateurish. You have 11 days between Tests, are 1-0 down in the Ashes, and have the opportunity to get accustomed to a pink ball." Former captain Alastair Cook also noted the team looked short of 'match toughness'. Despite the heavy defeat and subsequent criticism, England coach Brendon McCullum has vowed the team will not abandon their aggressive 'Bazball' approach. He expressed confidence in the team's methods, referencing a previous series against South Africa where they lost the first Test but came back to win. "I'd say keep the faith," was McCullum's blunt message to fans. "We know what our best game is... We've been in this situation before. Sometimes, we get beaten and it looks pretty ugly, but there are times when having that type of mentality allows us to be able to shift." As the team licks its wounds following the Perth defeat, all eyes will be on whether their relaxed downtime or their determined mindset will define their performance in the next Test, a day-night match in Brisbane beginning on December 4.Fierce Backlash from England Legends
McCullum and Stokes Defend the Team's Approach
