England captain Ben Stokes has copped massive criticism, but a chat with Sir Ian Botham, who was part of five Ashes-winning teams and knows what it takes to resurrect a side, would do him good

Sir Ian Botham. PIC/GETTY IMAGES

England’s defeats in the first two Ashes Tests at Perth and Brisbane have subjected them to massive criticism from fans and former players, who are in Australia on commentary duty. Their 2005 Ashes-winning skipper Michael Vaughan feels a 0-5 result is a possibility while Phil Tufnell — the erstwhile left-arm spinner — questioned the players’ desire. Stuart Broad, the baby in the players-turned-commentators band Down Under, wondered whether the think-tank chose the right bowlers for the Brisbane Test.

Sir Ian Botham, the senior-most of the lot, felt the English spectators should ask the England and Wales Cricket Board for a refund. He slammed the team’s decision not to train thoroughly with the pink ball ahead of the Gabba Test, where Australia won convincingly like they did in the end inside two days at Perth.

Former players spending their winter in England have chimed in too. Bazball has become Badball and soon someone is going to call head coach Brendon McCullum’s aggressive methods, Deadball. Some of the comments made by their former players moved me to be cynical. Can all these irate men, who are questioning the commitment of the current team and calling them arrogant, honestly say........

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