ENGLAND have finally succumbed to the inevitable and will leave Australia with their tails between their legs, following a 4-0 Ashes humiliation.
As with four years ago, the tourists will leave Down Under without a win, battered and bruised – here are five reasons they blew it.
1. Don’t be out until 2.30am
WHATEVER happened in Bristol on September 25, we know one thing for sure – Ben Stokes was out in the small hours in the middle of a one-day international series.
That was a big error.
All players should be sensible, professional and make sure their actions don’t affect team-mates and management.
2. Find a fast bowler
FOR all the skills of James Anderson, England were beaten by the raw pace of Australia’s bowlers.
They extracted more life from the pitches and intimidated England’s batsmen – especially the tail-enders.
Somehow, England must find a fast bowler or two for when they tour Australia in 2021-22.
3. Find a spinner
GRAEME SWANN has been England’s best slow bowler of the past 30 years and there is no sign of a replacement.
Adil Rashid has been discarded, Moeen Ali struggles overseas and Mason Crane took 1-193 on his debut.
It is tough for spinners with most county championship matches played on seaming pitches in early or late summer.
4. Better preparation
ENGLAND’S practice amounted to a mish-mash of matches against a variety of weak Cricket Australia XIs. For facing the likes of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, it was next-to-useless.
Four years from now, they must demand a higher quality of opposition leading up to the First Test.
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Possible England team for 2021-22 Ashes
Dan Lawrence (Essex)
Haseeb Hameed (Lancashire)
Joe Root (Yorkshire, capt)
Dawid Malan (Middlesex)
Liam Livingstone (Lancashire)
Ben Stokes (Durham)
Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire, wkt)
Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)
Jamie Overton (Somerset)
Mason Crane (Hampshire)
Josh Tongue (Worcestershire)
5. Rise above the baiting
POMMIE-BASHING is almost a national sport in Australia.
For all their generosity as hosts, the locals love nothing more than trying to humiliate visitors from the Mother country.
The campaign on TV, radio and in newspapers is relentless and some England players became distracted.
Just ignore – it is only a game.
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