Top 4 experts who slammed England's alarming collapse in AUS vs ENG Ashes 2025-26 1st Test ft. R Ashwin

England were handed an eight-wicket defeat by Australia in the first Ashes 2025-26 Test at Perth. It was a tough loss for the visitors, who are now 0-1 down in the five-match series.

Batting first, England were bowled out for just 172 in the first innings. However, their bowlers fought back hard to get the visitors back into the game. They bundled Australia out for 132, gaining a 40-run lead.

In their second essay, the batters disappointed again as they only managed to score 164 runs after being 65/2 at one stage. Australia were set a 205-run target and got home with ease in just 28.2 overs as Travis Head slammed an 83-ball 123.

That said, here are the top four experts who slammed England for their alarming collapse in the first Ashes 2025-26 Test.

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#4 Stuart Broad

Former England pacer Stuart Broad took a jibe at the batters after their poor show at Perth. He pointed out the issue the visitors would have had of getting their bowlers through for the five Tests. However, he stated that it would be possible if their batters ensured games were finished as quickly as the first Test ended, making a sarcastic comment.

“I’m still drastically searching for positives from an English point of view. They’ve been wondering for months how they’ll get the fast bowlers through five Tests. If they’re going to be this quick, they’ve got a chance. Bowling seven, eight overs an innings, I think they can do that for a few weeks," he said on Channel 7.

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#3 Michael Vaughan

Former captain Michael Vaughan criticised the team for letting go of the chance to win the game. He made a harsh statement that they could not be competitive without using their brains. Vaughan slammed the batters for their approach not just in the second innings but throughout the game.

"They had the chance yesterday (to bury Australia) and they lost 5-12 down the back end of the innings. They have the tools to be really competitive, but you can’t be competitive without brains. You can’t just play one way, which is what they’ve done, and they’ve come unstuck today and they came unstuck yesterday," he said. (via Fox Sports)

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#2 Geoffrey Boycott

England legend Geoffrey Boycott tore into the team, calling their batting 'brainless'. He stated that the team was always capable of self-destruction, criticising the bazball approach. Boycott blamed the approach and error in judgment, and also called the team overconfident after the loss.

"It is simple. Brainless batting and bowling lost England the match. A 40-run lead on a fast bouncy low scoring pitch was huge and with Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope together at one stage England were in charge at effectively 100 for one. But as exciting as this England team can be, they are always only a blink of an eye away from self destruction. Bazball, bad judgement, overconfidence, whatever the reason it makes winning matches difficult. Against top teams like India and Australia, it is a huge factor in losing," he was quoted as saying by The Times of India.

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#1 Ravichandran Ashwin

Former India cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin lashed out at the England batting line-up for not supporting the bowlers after their efforts to get them back into the game. He questioned the batting and called it 'reckless'. Notably, Australia were without Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins for the first Test. Despite their absence, the visitor's batters put on a horror show.

“As a batting group, how reckless can you be? Because on the first day, you were knocked out for 172, you lost five wickets in the space of 12 or 15 or maybe 20 runs. After that your bowling attack wrestled the initiative back, gave you a 40-run lead. And your first job as a batting unit is to give your bowlers enough rest… The England bowlers, I am sure, would have wanted to put their feet up, and in no time they are back on the park looking to defend 200, which is paltry," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

The second Test will begin on December 4 and will be played in Brisbane. It will be a day-night game and thus a pink ball Test.

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Edited by Rishab Vm