Ashwin Critiques England's 'Bazball' Strategy After Ashes Test Defeat

In a scathing critique, former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin has called out England's reckless batting during the first Ashes Test in Perth. Despite high hopes for their 'Bazball' approach, England faced significant collapses, leading to a swift defeat against Australia. Ashwin questions the team's strategy and emphasizes the need for better execution. The match recap highlights England's struggles and Australia's dominant performance, culminating in a quick chase of 205 runs. Read on for a detailed analysis of the match and Ashwin's insights.

By Narendra Chaudhary Nov 23, 2025, 12:52 IST

Ashwin Critiques England's 'Bazball' Strategy

Ravichandran Ashwin, a former Indian cricketer, criticized England's batting performance during the first Ashes Test in Perth, questioning the extent of their recklessness. He remarked, "How reckless could even reckless get?"

The much-anticipated 'Bazball' approach, which England had developed over the years leading up to the Ashes series, faced a significant setback. Despite hopes of achieving their first series victory in Australia since 2011, England's execution faltered, leading to batting collapses in both innings. No player managed to stay at the crease for more than 61 balls, with Harry Brook's first innings being the longest.

In the first innings, England's top order crumbled to 39/3 due to Mitchell Starc's bowling. They later collapsed from 115/4 to 172 all out. In their second innings, despite having a 40-run lead, they fell from 59/1 to 104/7. A late partnership between Brydon Carse and Gus Atkinson pushed their lead past 200 runs, but it was insufficient as Travis Head's outstanding performance led Australia to chase down the target in just 28.2 overs.

'How Reckless Can You Be?'

On his YouTube channel, Ashwin expressed his concerns, stating, "How reckless can you be?" He highlighted that after being bowled out for 172 runs, England's batting unit failed to provide their bowlers with adequate rest, which is crucial for their performance. He emphasized that the bowlers would have preferred to relax rather than return to the field quickly to defend a modest target.

Ashwin pointed out that England's style of play has been criticized for being overly reckless, and he referenced Michael Vaughan's commentary about the team's ability to bounce back, hoping they could do so to avoid a long and challenging tour.

Ashes First Test: Match Recap

In the match, England won the toss and chose to bat first. Despite a promising start from Ben Duckett, who scored 21 runs off 20 balls, England quickly fell to 39/3, with Joe Root's duck marking a low point in Mitchell Starc's impressive bowling performance.

A partnership between Ollie Pope and Harry Brook provided some stability, but England lost wickets rapidly, finishing their first innings at 172 runs in just 32.5 overs, with Starc taking 7 wickets.

Australia struggled initially against Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse, finding themselves at 31/4. However, a five-wicket haul from Ben Stokes helped them to 132 runs, leaving England with a 40-run lead.

In their second innings, England again faltered, losing wickets at regular intervals despite a brief partnership that pushed their lead above 200 runs. They were eventually bowled out for 164, setting Australia a target of 205 runs.

Travis Head's explosive innings of 123 runs off 83 balls, alongside Marnus Labuschagne's 51*, led Australia to victory in just 28.2 overs. Starc was named 'Player of the Match' for his outstanding performance.