Geoffrey Boycott has called on England to “use their brains” as Ben Stokes’ team looks to win this week’s second Test in Brisbane and level the Ashes series.
England went down 0-1 in the five-match series following a devastating eight-wicket loss to Australia inside two days in last month’s first Test in Perth.
Batting breakdowns paid England dear as the tourists lost five wickets for 12 runs in their first innings and four for 11 in their second.
Former England opener Boycott was adamant that Stokes’ team could prevail at Brisbane’s Gabba ground if they took a more methodical approach.
“But it doesn’t help our chances of success if Ben Stokes keeps encouraging our batsmen to attack, attack with one finger hovering over the self-destruct button,” Boycott wrote in his Daily Telegraph column.
“Nobody is asking the players to stop being positive because they have given us some marvellous, thrilling and entertaining cricket. All we ask is for them to use their brains and realise there are times when they should throttle back and be aware of situations and bat accordingly.”
Boycott, an 85-year-old Ashes winner in both Australia and England, also addressed Stokes’ apologies for a “slip of the tongue” following the all-rounder’s reference to “has-beens” in response to criticism of the team’s scant pre-series preparations from past players.
“To call past players ‘has-beens’ was disrespectful especially as some of those ‘has-beens’ played in teams that won the Ashes in England and Australia,” said Boycott.
“I am glad Ben has half apologised, saying it was a slip of the tongue, because none of this team have won the Ashes in Australia. Get the job done, because then you don’t need to say anything and you can bask in all the glory coming your way.”
The second Test, a day/night match, starts on Thursday with England searching for a first win in 17 Tests in Australia, a streak going back to their triumphant 2010/11 tour.
