Jonathan Agnew: “Whoever Signed Off This England Tour Has to Go”
SYDNEY: In a scathing assessment of England’s 4-1 Ashes defeat, BBC chief cricket commentator Jonathan Agnew has called for accountability at the highest levels of the ECB, describing the tour as the most disappointing of his career.
Despite record-breaking crowds and high expectations, England’s campaign concluded with a final Test loss in Sydney, cementing a comprehensive series loss against what Agnew characterized as an “Australia second XI.”
A “Pre-Determined” Failure
Agnew pinpointed the failure not to the play on the field, but to the administrative decisions made months in advance. He highlighted July 24, 2025—the day the pre-series schedule was announced—as the moment the Ashes were lost.
- Insufficient Preparation: England arrived in Australia with only a series of nets and a single intra-squad warm-up match.
- ECB Accountability: Agnew argued that whoever approved such a sparse schedule—whether Director of Cricket Rob Key or CEO Richard Gould—should lose their job for failing the team and the thousands of fans who invested their savings to travel.
The “Bazball” Crisis
The commentator spared no criticism for Brendon McCullum’s coaching philosophy, suggesting that the “relaxed” approach has backfired.
“Bazball has not been good for Ollie Pope, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith or Gus Atkinson… they have been a bit scrambled by what is expected of them.”
Agnew noted that while the team showed a lack of discipline—characterized by soft dismissals and dropped catches—Australia remained clinical, patient, and technically superior. He urged a return to flexibility and a renewed emphasis on county cricket to help players learn the nuances of the long-form game.
Squad Analysis: Who Stays and Who Goes?
In his post-series player ratings, Agnew offered a blunt look at the current squad’s future:
- Ben Stokes: Labeled the “best leader England have,” Agnew insists he must remain captain to prevent a total collapse of the team structure.
- Harry Brook: Heavily criticized for “irresponsible” batting and a recent nightclub altercation, Agnew stated Brook is “a million miles” from being suitable for a leadership role.
- Jacob Bethell & Josh Tongue: The only two players praised for leaving the tour with “heads held high.” Bethell’s 154 in Sydney was described as an innings of immense maturity.
- Jamie Smith: A matter of “serious concern” after averaging just 23.44 across 10 innings and struggling behind the stumps.
- Will Jacks: Agnew suggested England must “move on,” arguing Jacks is not a high-enough quality bowler to serve as a frontline spinner.
A Message to the Fans
Agnew concluded by highlighting the anger of the travelling supporters. “Their feeling is not disappointment. They are angry and deserve better,” he wrote, demanding that the ECB provide a transparent explanation for the strategic failures that led to one of England’s most “embarrassing” Ashes showings in recent history.
