“That Indian side wasn’t a great side either” - Former England captain’s brutal comments amid 0-3 Ashes 2025-26 debacle

Former England captain Alastair Cook made a brutal assessment, with the visitors putting up poor performances in the ongoing Ashes 2025-26 series. The former opener suggested that England should have beaten India during their home summer, as the Shubman Gill-captained side wasn't that good.

England held a 2-1 lead in the five-match series against India ahead of the final Test at The Oval. They also had the upper hand in pursuit of 374, comfortably placed at 301/3. But they suffered a dramatic collapse, with Mohammed Siraj taking a fifer to bowl them out for 367.

With Ben Stokes and Co. having already surrendered the five-Test series Down Under, Cook said there was a visible disconnect between county cricket and the current England side. He asserted that Australia have issued the tourists a brutal reality check. Speaking on TNT Sports, Cook elaborated:

"There is a massive disconnect at this minute from this England side to county cricket. I do think that needs to be addressed. Because if you are banging out runs in county cricket or wickets in county cricket, there must be a path into the Test team. I think at minute they risen, so I think that needs to be looked at. They have done a good job. "I like Rob Key, I like McCullum. I like how they think but I do think they have taken their eye off the ball for the biggest series. They’ve taken the eye off the ball for the biggest series. We talk about India, they lost. They drew India and India got thumped by South Africa, so that Indian side wasn’t a great side either. Reality has hit this Test team."

The visitors' batting struggles on Australia's bouncy surfaces have been laid bare. The tourists capitulated twice in two days, batting only 66.9 overs, in Perth to lose the series opener by eight wickets. They showed resistance in Brisbane and Adelaide but still lost key moments to go down 0-3.

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England playing catch-up after being bowled out on Day 1 of 4th Test

Ben Stokes. (Image Credits: Getty)

Meanwhile, the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) saw both batting units struggle. Stokes won the toss and sent Australia into bat, but their innings lasted only 45.2 overs as they were bowled out for 152.

But the hosts' four-pronged pace attack roared back as the English side folded for 110, with Michael Neser picking up four wickets. Australia ended Day 1 at 4-0 in their second innings, with a 46-run lead.

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Edited by Sankalp Srivastava