Legendary former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin criticized the England batters after their loss in the first Ashes 2025-26 Test in Perth. The match concluded on Day 2 (Saturday, November 22), with Travis Head’s explosive 123 off 83 balls leading Australia to a commanding eight-wicket win while chasing 205 in the fourth innings in just 28.2 overs.
Following the game, Ashwin shared a sharp critique of England’s batting on his YouTube channel. The team struggled with the bat, managing only 172 (35.3 overs) and 164 (34.4 overs) in their two innings. Speaking on their performance, Ashwin remarked:
“But how reckless will reckless suffice? I am actually thinking, where will the bandwidth of the word ‘reckless’ remain? If you keep putting everything into that bandwidth, how reckless can even reckless get? Because I am saying that, you know, there are many things.”
“I don’t want to take names of players. Even in the Indian team, there will be many next-generation players who, I mean, the fielders are back on the boundary, yet they take the chance, they hit lofted shots.”
“As a batting group, how reckless can you be? You were bowled out for 172, lost quick wickets, and didn’t give your bowlers rest. England’s bowlers had to defend just 200, which is paltry,” Ashwin said.
“Truly Hammered” – R Ashwin Slams England For Reckless Play In 1st Ashes Test
In the same video, Ravichandran Ashwin noted that England were thoroughly punished for their reckless batting, despite Australia missing key bowlers such as Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood. He added:
“In my view, England, minus Pat Cummins minus Hazlewood have been hammered, and truly hammered, after they put on a show and thinking Bazball has come to town. They have been hammered for reckless cricket. So I know Michael Vaughan was saying on commentary that this team knows how to come back. I hope they do, because this will become a very, very, very long tour otherwise.”
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