Ashes 2025-26: ‘England’s three wise men turned into three stooges’ - Boycott slams top management after 1-4 loss

Published - 09 Jan 2026, 22:50 IST | Updated - 09 Jan 2026, 22:53 IST

England legend Geoffrey Boycott delivered a scathing post-mortem following the conclusion of the Ashes 2025-26, after watching England slump to a demoralising 4-1 series defeat in Australia. Boycott pulled no punches as he criticised the team’s leadership, arguing that the much-hyped ‘Bazball’ approach has deteriorated from an exciting experiment into a culture of entitlement and recklessness.

He claimed that England’s lack of basic discipline and refusal to adapt to Australian conditions were the primary reasons behind their downfall. The 85-year-old called for a complete overhaul of the team’s top management ahead of England’s next Test assignment in June. Boycott directly criticised head coach Brendon McCullum, managing director Rob Key, and captain Ben Stokes, holding them responsible for England’s Ashes failure.

“England’s three wise men turned out to be the three stooges. Brendon McCullum, Rob Key, and Ben Stokes sold a lie for three years. Nobody tells them off, no accountability, and nobody gets dropped, so they just keep doing the same daft things. Why should the players change, adapt, or improve if the coach and captain are okay with it?,” Boycott wrote in The Telegraph.

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Boycott described McCullum as a leader who has failed to evolve beyond a high-risk, gambling mindset. He argued that the England and Wales Cricket Board must compel the current leadership group to listen to former greats who understand what it takes to win in Australian conditions. Boycott specifically urged Key to involve legends such as Ian Botham, Graham Gooch, and David Gower to offer experience, insight, and a much-needed fresh perspective.

“But he is a gambler who thinks he is always going to win his money back. That’s how casinos always win in the end… They don’t know when to stop or change their routine. This sort of free license to do whatever you please with no consequence is holding England back. To get to the next level, we need a different discipline and structure,” wrote Boycott.