Sir Geoff Boycott Picks Two England Players Who Flopped In The Ashes 2021-22 And Two Players Who Enhanced Their Reputation
Updated - 18 Jan 2022, 12:10 AM
Legendary England opener Sir Geoff Boycott has delivered his verdict on England’s performance in the recently concluded Ashes 2021-22 series and picked three players who flopped majorly in the series, which the visitors lost 0-4 and named two players whose reputation was enhanced thanks to their brilliant performances despite the abysmal outcome.
England just couldn’t compete at the level of the Australians in the Ashes 2021-22, as they were battered and obliterated in all of the four-Test losses in the series. England lost in Brisbane by 9 wickets, lost the D/N Test in Adelaide by 275 runs, lost the Melbourne Test by an innings and 14 runs, and also lost the series.
Somehow, the last wicket pair of James Anderson and Stuart Broad saved them blushes in Sydney and held out for a draw. However, a collapse of 10/56 in the D/N Test in Hobart finished the Ashes on a sour note for the visitors.
Geoff Boycott Names Haseeb Hameed, Jos Buttler And Rory Burns As Flops Of Ashes 2021-22
Geoffrey Boycott has branded Jos Buttler, Haseeb Hameed, and Rory Burns ‘flops’ after their struggles in England’s 4-0 loss to Australia in the Ashes. Hameed and Burns failed to give England the starts required and ended the series averaging 10.00 and 12.83 respectively. Buttler, on the other hand, averaged just 15.28 with the bat and put down several chances behind the stumps.
In his column for the Telegraph , Boycott wrote: “Jos Buttler dropped catches and his batting was dreadful. Jos is great against ordinary bowlers but against top class bowling he was found out. Haseeb Hameed, I am sad to say, has not got it. No matter how decent Haseeb looks in the nets or in county cricket he has struggled and will struggle at international level playing like he does in a straight line.
Rory Burns is ugly to watch. If that is the best of what English cricket has to offer then God help England, his technique you would not give to a friend.”
Buttler missed the fifth Test after suffering a broken finger in the fourth Test match, while Rory Burns was dropped and replaced as an opener by Zak Crawley.
Mark Wood And Zak Crawley Did Well For Themselves In Ashes: Geoff Boycott
However, Boycott reserved praise for Mark Wood and Zak Crawley, claiming the pair have “enhanced their reputations” with their performances Down Under in the recent Ashes 2021-22.
Mark Wood picked 17 wickets including 9 in the Hobart Test match and was England’s highest wicket-taker in the series. Crawley, meanwhile, was brought into the side midway through the series and scored a fluent 77 in Sydney.
“Mark’s pace has unsettled so many of the Aussie batsmen hitting them on the gloves, arms and body. He was a breath of fresh air and if he can stay fit he will have lots more success. Zak’s batting at the end was a delightful surprise. Please Zak – do not be a flash in the pan as we need a lot more from you,” Boycott wrote.
Much more autopsy of England’s abysmal performance will be done with calls for heads to roll including that of captain Joe Root and coach Chris Silverwood.
