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England crumble as Ashes hopes fade
England's cricket team faces mounting criticism after a disastrous third day in the Ashes series, with former captain Michael Vaughan warning of potential "psychological damage" following a heavy defeat to Australia.
Collapse on day three
Trailing by 177 runs after Australia's first innings, England's batting lineup collapsed to 134-6 by the close of play on Saturday. The tourists now risk losing the first two matches of the series, with key players failing to deliver under pressure.
Ben Duckett fell shortly after the dinner break, and while England reached 90-1, they lost five wickets for just 38 runs. Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, and Jamie Smith all departed cheaply, with Pope and Crawley both caught and bowled by Michael Neser.
Vaughan slams England's predictable approach
"England are a side that, for three or four years now, have played one way, and I just think teams know how to play against them-that's a real worry. They were humiliated in Perth, and today was no different."
Michael Vaughan, former England captain
Vaughan criticized England's aggressive but predictable batting style, arguing that opponents have learned how to exploit their weaknesses. He singled out Crawley, who scored 76 and 44 in previous innings but fell to a loose shot, and Pope, whose tendency to drive outside off stump was repeatedly targeted.
Squad depth questioned
With several batters out of form, England's limited replacement options are under scrutiny. The England Lions, playing an unofficial Test against Australia A in Brisbane, conceded a 388-run first-innings lead, further exposing the lack of depth in the squad.
"There is no spare keeper, Jamie Smith is a wonderful talent but he's struggling. Ben Duckett looks edgy at the top, and Pope is all over the place. You can't keep relying on Joe Root to bail you out."
Michael Vaughan
Vaughan also expressed concern about the psychological impact on the bowlers, who failed to take wickets despite long spells in the field.
Criticism of preparation and selection
BBC cricket commentator Jonathan Agnew argued that England's players face no real consequences for their failures, with no pressure from reserves to force changes. He suggested that repeated poor performances should result in players being dropped.
England's preparation has also come under fire. The team played only one warm-up match before the series and skipped a two-day pink-ball game in Canberra. Assistant coach Marcus Trescothick defended the approach, stating that modern cricket no longer requires traditional preparation methods.
"Cricket is a lot more condensed these days. It's the same for Australia when they come to England, or India. There's no real difference-it's just the way it is."
Marcus Trescothick, England assistant coach
Vaughan, however, disagreed, arguing that England's players appeared "shell-shocked" against the pink ball, having faced it for the first time in the match. He questioned whether the team had been given the best chance to succeed in Australia.
Australia's strength despite absences
While England struggles, Australia's squad depth remains formidable. Despite missing key players like Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood, the hosts boast over 1,000 Test wickets among their second-string lineup. Captain Pat Cummins, who passed a fitness test, is set to return for the third Test.
"This is their second string, and they're still dominating."
Michael Vaughan
Ashes hopes hang by a thread
The series, billed as the most anticipated Ashes in a generation, now appears all but lost for England after just six days. With the final Test not concluding until the second week of January, the team faces a long period of soul-searching over the future of the "Bazball" project and its leadership.
Former players and commentators are already questioning whether head coach Brendon McCullum, captain Ben Stokes, and managing director Rob Key will retain their positions, regardless of the final result. England now risks recording their worst performance in Australia this century.
