![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/bazball-is-great-fun-to-watch-but-its-hubris-cost-england-the-ashes/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/0_England-v-Australia-LV-Insurance-Ashes-4th-Test-Match-Day-Five.jpg&description="Sorry to be the grumpy neighbour who asks to turn the music down a notch when your house party's in full swing, but when England play Australia, winning the Ashes is what matters most. In fact, it's the only thing that matters." Ben Stokes is right. This England team will be remembered forever – as the side who dropped the Ashes in a thrilling summer. Instead of lamenting the rain in Manchester, where brolly seemed to be the hardest word and the lucky Aussies absconded with the urn after a draw they did not deserve, England should be 3-0 up and out of sight by now, not 2-1 down. But they have been undone by their own Bazball hubris where just a few shafts of ruthless pragmatism, and more streetwise cricket, would have served them well. First things first: Bazball is brilliant to watch. Zak Crawley's blistering 189 at Old Trafford, Jonny Bairstow's rollicking 99 not out, captain Stokes spanking nine sixes at Lord's and Mark Wood's 96.5mph express pace at Headingley all belong on any Ashes highlights reel. To tonk the Aussies for 592 at almost six runs an over gave the Baggy Greens a taste of their own medicine – with a strawberry on top. They looked chastened, ragged and cut down to size for three days in Manchester, and we loved it. Absolutely loved it. But here's the catch, Ben. You say this isn't a results-driven England side, that entertaining the masses is the priority – and there's no dispute, you have royally entertained us with this devil-may-care approach for 18 months. Sorry to be the grumpy neighbour who asks to turn the music down a notch when your house party's in full swing, but when England play Australia, winning the Ashes is what matters most. In fact, it's the only thing that matters. That's why posh toffs in the Long Room lost their rag when they thought the Aussies had driven a coach and horses through the spirit of cricket after Bairstow was controversially stumped at Lord's. That's why England's noisiest supporters have been goading St){kind=link}
“Sorry to be the grumpy neighbour who asks to turn the music down a notch when your house party’s in full swing, but when England play Australia, winning the Ashes is what matters most. In fact, it’s the only thing that matters.”
Ben Stokes is right. This England team will be remembered forever â as the side who dropped the Ashes in a thrilling summer.
âInstead of lamenting the rain in Manchester, where brolly seemed to be the hardest word and the lucky Aussies absconded with the urn after a draw they did not deserve, England should be 3-0 up and out of sight by now, not 2-1 down.
âBut they have been undone by their own Bazball hubris where just a few shafts of ruthless pragmatism, and more streetwise cricket, would have served them well.
âFirst things first: Bazball is brilliant to watch. Zak Crawley’s blistering 189 at Old Trafford, Jonny Bairstow’s rollicking 99 not out, captain Stokes spanking nine sixes at Lord’s and Mark Wood’s 96.5mph express pace at Headingley all belong on any Ashes highlights reel.