Aussie cult hero drops bomb on England after second Test disaster
England’s entire cricket system is on the brink of collapse heading into the third Ashes Test, and an Aussie has exposed the brutal reality.
Aussie cult hero Jason Gillespie has stirred the pot amid suggestions England coach Brendon McCullum’s job is on the line this Ashes series.
The former Kiwi captain has divided the cricket world with his so-called “Bazball” philosophy which has been the team’s undoing in recent Test series.
McCullum is under fire like never before as England went 2-0 down following an eight-wicket defeat at the Gabba.
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The sight of captain Ben Stokes appearing to abandon the Bazball approach in his second innings was further evidence the swashbuckling style is a graveyard for unprepared tourists.
His second innings score of 50 came from 152 balls.
Outside of Joe Root’s first innings century, Stokes’ innings was only other time this series where an English batsman has faced more than 100 balls.
Ever delivery the skipper let through to the keeper was another nail in Bazball’s grave.
English cricket icons Sir Geoffrey Boycott and Sir Ian Botham have been among the most vocal critics of England’s limited preparation and one-dimensional approach.
Now Gillespie has shared a brutal truth.
“I’m not sure if any coach in the history of professional sport has been given the amount of rope Brendon McCullum had,” the South Australian coach wrote on X.
He went on to post: “Peter Moores, who is an incredible coach, did not get this level of backing by the ECB (England Cricket Board)”.
Moores, who was twice sacked by the ECB, was shown the door for the final time in 2015.
McCullum looked every bit England’s cricket Messiah when he took over as coach in 2022 as England won nine of their first 10 Tests.
Reality has hit hard in recent years with England’s heading into the third Test in Adelaide with a record of 15 wins, 15 losses and two draws.
England cricket greats have shared concerns Stokes and McCullum have players, coaches, officials and board members drinking the same Kool-Aid when it comes to Bazball.
Boycott’s scathing column in The Telegraph before the Brisbane Test said it all.
“Before this series started Ben Stokes told the world that any ex-player who criticised them or had a different opinion were “has-beens” because Test cricket had changed and the past was irrelevant,” he wrote.
“Well, from this has been the message is simple: when you keep throwing away Test matches by doing the same stupid things it is impossible to take you seriously.
“They never learn, because they never listen to anyone outside their own bubble, because they truly believe their own publicity.”
Others are now speaking out.
Leading England cricket commentator Jonathan Agnew did not hold back when speaking with the BBC.
“I think Bazball is unsustainable,” Agnew said on BBC’s Ashes Debrief.
“It did it’s job. First year, it picked up some broken players. Got them enjoying cricket again, winning games and people loved watching it.
“It was good entertainment, but it’s unsustainable. You can’t play one-dimensional Test cricket and it’s now at the crunch. I think Bazball is dead and we’re going to see something different next time.”
He went on to write in a column: “To be 2-0 down with three to play in an Ashes series is incredibly serious.
“Stokes knows there are jobs, careers and reputations on the line. That is what he will be saying to his players.”
Former England fast bowler Steve Harmison, meanwhile, called out England’s lack of accountability under McCullum.
“They are a very insular group,” he said on talkSPORT Cricket.
“A group, whether you want to call them arrogant or not or egotistical, when it comes to selections they’ve gone right we have got the same seven top order batters who have made the same mistakes constantly.
“We’ve got a top seven brainwashed by Brendon McCullum in such a way which will never, ever work consistently because these players will never learn from their mistakes.”
Former England star Mark Butcher also told talkSPORT: “The complete lack of game awareness and discipline, in-game discipline to recognise big moments and game situation is what’s killing England at the moment and has done in big series in the past against big opposition.
They’ve bullied poor opposition but when its come down to playing India and Australia they’ve fallen well short.”
Boycott pulled his flamethrower out again after watching England’s batting display in Brisbane.
“Brisbane was a horror show: irresponsible batting, bowling too short, too wide or too full and catches dropped. This Australian team was there to be beaten but somehow after just six days of Ashes cricket, England need a miracle,” Boycott wrote.
“England talk the talk but can’t walk the walk. With this sort of batting and bowling they couldn’t win an egg cup, let alone the Ashes urn.
“Ben Stokes said England had a blueprint. They had been planning this tour for four years and know what they are doing. What a load of bulls***.
“We can’t believe anything Ben or his team say. None of them want to listen to anyone outside of their own camp.”
He called out “Bazball” for what many are starting to believe it is — a cult.
“They are up their own backsides convinced that Test cricket has changed so much that only they know anything about the modern game,” Boycott wrote.
“They won’t have it, but there is no substitute for competitive match cricket. That is where you find out what length to bowl on Australian pitches, what shots to use best on their surfaces and more importantly what not to do.
“One of the problems with this squad is it appears nobody tells them off or sits them down and discusses what they could or should have done differently. All we ever hear from the captain is attack and from the coach keep the faith. After some of those dismissals my Yorkshire captain Brian Close would have stood at the top of the pavilion steps with steam coming out of his ears waiting to give you a ‘knuckle sandwich’
“But what do I know? I am just a has-been who did four England tours of Australia winning two Ashes series and drawing the other two.
“This lot aren’t even afraid of getting dropped.”
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