Sydney, Dec 9: Former Australian pace great Glenn McGrath has delivered a blunt assessment of England’s faltering Ashes campaign, cautioning that the tourists face the prospect of a humiliating series scoreline unless they strike back immediately in the third Test in Adelaide.
Australia’s 2-0 lead, sealed in just six days of cricket, has surpassed even home expectations. The hosts survived a stern examination in the opening Test in Perth before pulling off a dramatic comeback, and then rode that momentum to dominate the day-night encounter in Brisbane, where they dismantled England with clinical efficiency.
McGrath believes the series is not yet beyond England’s reach, but insists the window is rapidly closing. “If they don’t win in Adelaide, it will get embarrassing,” he said, noting that many Australian sceptics of England’s aggressive approach now feel vindicated.
The former fast bowler, who witnessed England’s methods up close during the 2023 Ashes in the UK, said the central question coming into this tour was whether England’s high-risk batting would withstand Australian conditions.
Early signs, he argued, have not been encouraging. Loose strokes, lapses in judgement and failure to cope with pressure have repeatedly undermined the visitors.
McGrath acknowledged the positives of England’s fearless brand of cricket but stressed that great teams embrace pressure rather than dismiss it. Drawing on his experiences under captains Allan Border, Mark Taylor, Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting, he highlighted how accountability and collective responsibility formed the backbone of Australia’s dominant era.
According to him, England’s mantra of “this is how we play” had risked becoming a shield against scrutiny. Only after the Brisbane defeat, he said, did it appear that England accepted the need to adapt. Public comments from Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, admitting shortcomings and hinting at adjustments, were viewed as a decisive shift in tone. (Agencies)
