![Prost International [PINT]](https://prostinternational.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/PINTtFontLogoRoboto1536x78.jpg)
England’s tour, laden with promise, ultimately delivered disappointment—both for the thousands of travelling supporters and the many more watching from afar.
Although England secured their first Test victory in Australia for fifteen years, the series will be remembered less for that achievement and more for the off-field distractions that dominated discussion before, during, and after the contest.
From the outset, questions were raised about the touring party and the preparation strategy adopted. England opted for minimal acclimatisation—just two days of work in Lilac Park and little elsewhere—a decision that quickly came under scrutiny and, regrettably for the hierarchy, proved costly. The plan was clear: select players capable of coping with Australian conditions, unleash extreme pace to disrupt batting line-ups, and counter relentless seam bowling with an aggressive, all-out approach with the bat. In execution, however, the strategy fell short.
During the three-and-a-half years of Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes’ leadership, England had effectively built towards this Ashes campaign only. Fourteen players were given their debuts across the cycle prior to the tour kicking off in Perth, some afforded more opportunities than others, as the ECB searched for a winning formula. Instead, the final outcome represented the opposite of what had been intended.
The recall of openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett was designed to provide continuity and to play with the aggression at the top of the order. Despite arriving with an impressive pre-tour opening partnership average of 45.55 in one of the best globally, both struggled to make an impact. Crawley once again averaged 27, as he always has throughout his career, while Duckett—whose reputation as an elite all-format opener continues to grow—returned an average of just 20. England lost their first wicket inside the opening two overs in six of their ten innings, with their longest opening stand lasting only 46 deliveries.
Ollie Pope, another player heavily backed by management, frequently found himself at the crease early and appeared frenetic throughout the first two matches. Stripped of the vice-captaincy and under the looming presence of Jacob Bethell—widely viewed as the ECB’s golden boy and long-term investment—Pope was playing under immense pressure. With his own coaches publicly unwilling to rule out a change, each innings appeared to carry career-defining consequences.
Beyond returning players, as mentioned before England introduced fourteen new faces during the Ashes cycle, nine of whom made the final squad and three of whom played all five Tests. Harry Brook, Jamie Smith, and Brydon Carse were the ever-presents. Brook’s series was respectable, yet his dismissals—often the result of overly aggressive shot selection—suggest a sense of what might have been. Off-field issues, including his much-publicised altercation prior to captaining in New Zealand, added further distraction before getting on the plane home.
Smith was entrusted with the wicketkeeping role despite being his county’s third-choice option. Although his batting record before the tour justified selection, concerns over his glovework proved well-founded. The 25-year-old endured a torrid series behind the stumps, dropping more catches and missing more stumpings than in his previous 39 international appearances combined. His batting, billed as a Gilchrist-style counterpunch from number seven, failed to materialise. A succession of careless dismissals, most notably his ill-judged pull shot to Marnus Labuschagne marked as one of the worst dismissals in the history of Tests, left observers aghast and bewildered. While Smith may remain in contention, many believe his future may lie as a specialist batter rather than wicketkeeper.
Carse, meanwhile, was a captain’s dream in terms of effort and durability. His relentless work rate yielded 22 wickets, making him England’s leading wicket-taker. However, despite never having opened the bowling in red-ball cricket across 74 matches, he was suddenly tasked with doing so mid-series. Though his commitment was unquestionable, he leaked runs like a broken tap—particularly to a relentless Travis Head—and finished the tour as the spearhead of a visibly fatigued attack.
Injuries, as ever, played their part. England’s long-held vision of a pace quartet featuring Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, and Mark Wood briefly materialised in Perth before unravelling. Wood’s body failed him once again, limiting him to just eleven overs. At 35, it may mark the end of an international career that promised far more than setback-after-setback allowed.
Atkinson, whose Test career began spectacularly with 15 wickets on debut and a Lord’s century soon after, found Australia far less forgiving. Averaging 47 with the ball at an economy rate exceeding four runs per over, his struggles typified England’s wider bowling issues.
Matt Potts’ experience encapsulated the consequences of inadequate match preparation. Seventh in the pecking order on arrival, he was eventually asked to open the bowling in the final Test at Sydney. After bowling just 16 competitive overs in the preceding three months, he delivered 25 wicketless overs at the SCG, conceding 141 runs. If this proves to be his final Test appearance, he can justifiably feel unfortunate, given he was thrown in the deep end at the end whilst under-cooked.
Not all was bleak. Josh Tongue seized his opportunity, emerging as England’s most threatening bowler in the latter stages. Taking eight wickets at an average of 20.11, he consistently troubled Australia’s batters and earned the rare distinction of earning the right to refer to one of the greatest ever batters as his “bunny”, as he repeatedly dismissed Steve Smith. Individual accolades aside, he would readily trade them for an Ashes victory.
Jacob Bethell also enhanced his reputation. After spending much of the year on the periphery and topping up his tan carrying drinks, he was finally entrusted with a starting role once the series was lost. His return was emphatic: sharp catching, useful overs, and a magnificent second-innings 154 that showcased composure and class. Bethell appears destined to occupy England’s number three position for years to come.
Will Jacks’ tour was more complex. Initially a surprise inclusion, he featured in four Tests and was asked to fulfil an unfamiliar role as a frontline bowler. While his batting showed promise and his athleticism impressed early on, his Sydney performance—marked by dropped catches and a reckless second-ball dismissal—proved costly, particularly during Bethell’s defining innings.
Those left behind—Jamie Overton, Sam Cook, Liam Livingstone, Matt Parkinson, and Tom Hartley—appear to have fallen out of favour, while Rehan Ahmed and Josh Hull remain viable long-term prospects.
The most perplexing case remains Shoaib Bashir. England invested significant time and faith in the young spinner, despite his lack of a county contract, only to leave him unused throughout the winter. Selected specifically for Australian conditions, Bashir never featured. With his limitations as a one-dimensional bowler well known, England must now decide whether to persist, reconsider, or admit a miscalculation. For now, the answer remains unclear.
