Former Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has criticized the Ben Stokes-led England cricket team’s Bazball approach after their eight-wicket defeat to Australia in the first Test of the ongoing Ashes 2025-26 inside two days at the Optus Stadium in Perth.
Ashwin has not just slammed England’s batting collapse but also questioned the whole idea that taking unnecessary risks is acceptable in modern Test cricket. The former Indian all-rounder has boldly claimed that their Bazball approach is slowly turning harmful for England.
Ravichandran Ashwin further pointed out that shots that look reckless are being promoted as fearless cricket, and this mindset cost England the Ashes 2025-26 opener against Australia that they had worked hard to control in Perth. They had a horrible start on Day 1, getting bowled out for only 172 after losing five wickets in a quick spell where they could score only 8 runs.
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But the English bowlers bowled brilliantly. They bundled out Australia for 132 and turned the game around, taking a 40-run lead. At that stage, all England needed was for their batters to settle in, build on the advantage, and give the bowlers some well-deserved rest.
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Ravichandran Ashwin said on his YouTube channel, “As a batting group, how reckless can you be? Because on the first day, you were knocked out for 172, and you lost five wickets in the space of 12 or 15 or maybe 20 runs. After that, your bowling attack wrestled the initiative back and gave you a 40-run lead. And your first job as a batting unit is to give your bowlers enough rest.”
But instead of strengthening their position, England’s batting fell apart again. They reached 65 for the loss of one wicket in the second innings, leading by 105, and looked in control. Suddenly, everything went downhill as wickets kept falling, and they were bowled out for just 164.
Ravichandran Ashwin pointed out that England’s bowlers must have expected a long break after doing their job so well, but their batting collapse forced them to return to the field almost immediately to defend 204 runs that were always going to be too small a target against Australia in Perth.
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Ashwin signed off by saying, “As Rahul (Dravid) bhai always says, give your bowlers overnight rest and see how your bowlers respond. Today, they came and cleaned up the last wicket. The England bowlers, I am sure, would have wanted to put their feet up, and in no time, they are back on the park looking to defend 200, which is paltry.”
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Australia then took complete charge. Travis Head blasted a brilliant 123 off 83 balls, taking the match away in style. Australia chased the target in just 28.2 overs with eight wickets in hand. With this loss, England are now 0–1 down in the five-match Test series.
Now, the pressure is increasing on the captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum as they head into the day-night Test against Australia, starting on December 4 in Brisbane.
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