Ian Botham slams England's stubborn stars after 'horrendous' performance in Perth - and calls for 'Bazball' tactics to end ahead of second Ashes Test
Champion all-rounder was seething after Perth Ashes TestBaffled as to why England continue with 'Bazball' approach
Cricket legend Ian Botham has slammed England's stubborn stars following the first Ashes Test in Perth, bluntly declaring they 'might as well go home now' if they persist with reckless tactics at the crease.England have not won the Ashes in Australia after losing the first Test since the 1950s - but coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes remain adamant their aggressive 'Bazball' focus will get results.Against South Africa in 2022, the Poms won 2-1 after losing the opener at Lord's and then won plenty of admirers after drawing the Ashes series on home soil in 2023 when trailing 2-0.But as many Aussie fans are quick to point out, Pat Cummins' side still retained the urn two years ago. Botham has called for a patient mindset from Stokes and his under-fire teammates ahead of the second Test in Brisbane, which starts on December 4. 'It (Perth) was horrendous, there's no other word for it,' the decorated all-rounder, 70, told PA News Agency. Ian Botham has slammed England's stubborn stars following the first Ashes Test in Perth, declaring they 'might as well go home now' if they persist with reckless tactics at the crease Coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes (pictured) remain adamant their aggressive 'Bazball' focus will get results on Australian soil Ominously for England, Test captain Pat Cummins was spotted with the pink ball in a nets session in Sydney on Tuesday and is eyeing a return from a back injury at the Gabba'England need to fire up and fire up quickly. I'm sick of hearing, 'This is the way we play'. If I hear it once more, I think I'll throw something.'If that's the way you play, you might as well go home now because it's going to be 5-0 to Australia.'They probably won't like me saying that, but they need to get their heads around it. 'I want more pride when I see people pulling that sweater on.'England's push to square the series won't be easy.Pat Cummins was spotted with the pink ball in a net session on Tuesday and is targeting a return from a back injury at the Gabba.The Test captain has snared 43 wickets at an average of 17.34 in pink-ball Tests, including career-best figures of 6-23 against Sri Lanka at the Gabba in 2019.Elsewhere, whether Nathan Lyon is named in the XI remains to be seen.The 38-year-old off-spinner is one wicket away from equalling Glenn McGrath’s career tally of 563 Test dismissals - but only bowled two overs in Perth.In Australia's previous pink-ball Test, a memorable victory over India at Adelaide Oval, Lyon bowled just the solitary over on another seamer-friendly deck.England’s Bazball approach with the willow also means not many Ashes Tests this summer are tipped to reach the fifth day, which is typically when conditions best suit spinners such as Lyon.
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Ian Botham slams England's stubborn stars after 'horrendous' performance in Perth - and calls for 'Bazball' tactics to end ahead of second Ashes Test
