Alastair Cook’s touring Test side is on track to go down as one of the worst Ashes performers on Australian soil.
Just a handful of months since claiming a 3-0 (two drawn) Ashes series win in England, Cook and co have fallen into a 3-0 hole after comprehensive losses in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth yesterday.
The current England squad are behind both the 1920-21 and 2006-07 English sides that both suffered 5-0 series losses Down Under according to The Courier Mail.
How you ask? Led by Andy Flintoff, the 2006 English side had lost 56 wickets for a total of 1772 and an average of 31.64 after three Tests. The 1920 version lost 60 for 1696 and an average of 28.26.
Cook’s boys are even worse at the three Test mark- 60-1403 with an individual batting average of 23.38.
As expected, the fickle English media have wasted no time launching a scathing attack on their travelling XI.
Former Test hero Ian Botham used his spotlight in The Mirror to dig the claws in.
“They have given up the most precious prize in Test cricket without so much as an argument,” Botham wrote.
“Certainly the fourth morning was as embarrassing as it gets.
“There is little excuse for a team as good as England and with players as good as they have at their disposal to have put up a performance like this.
“Too many quality cricketers have not done everything they could to stop the Ashes from ending up in Aussie hands and that is unforgivable.”
The Guardian and The Daily Mail both joined in with Martin Samuels declaring Kevin Pietersen needs “decide if he still wants to be a Test Player”, describing the veteran as “unable” and “almost unwilling” to adapt.
With the series now lost, England coach Andy Flower is expected to make some changes to the side that missed their chance in Perth.
“We need to decide whether we’re merely focusing on these two games or looking further into the future and exposing other players,” Flower said.
“But we haven’t had those meetings yet, we haven’t had those discussions.
“I need to meet with the selectors as well and we’ll get some clarity on those issues.”
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