Former Test captain Ian Chappell has made a scathing assessment of England’s top-order stocks following the visitors’ dismal end to day two of the Boxing Day Test.
When asked for his views on England’s alarming plummet over the final hour, in which Joe Root‘s men limped to stumps at 4-31, Chappell was highly critical of Haseeb Hameed, Zak Crawley and axed opener Rory Burns.
“They haven’t got too many options (for the top order),” Chappell told Wide World of Sport.
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“Really, it doesn’t make a difference what changes they make; it doesn’t seem to help them.
“Knowing that the top order is really struggling is a big advantage, and it’s an even bigger advantage when Australia have got two really good quickies in (Mitchell) Starc and (Pat) Cummins.”
Hameed was backed by England’s selectors for the first three Tests of the Ashes but failed to lock in his spot, making scores of 25, 27, six, consecutive ducks and seven.
Burns was selected for the first two games and was cut for the MCG Test, having registered a golden duck, 13, four and 34.
The left-hander was horrendous against the first ball of the series, making a mess of his footwork as Starc bowled him behind his legs.
And while Crawley was recalled to the Test side at the expense of Burns, the 23-year-old had an even more meagre output in Melbourne, mustering 12 and five.
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“The fact that they get bogged down by the Australians (is their biggest problem),” Chappell said.
“The Australians know that even if they stay there for a little while they’re not going to do much damage. That gives them a big advantage.
“They’re making them play early on, they’re bowling good balls and, importantly, they’re catching most of the things coming their way. So that makes Australia really dangerous.”
While England had kept their fading Ashes hopes alive through a magnificent showing with the ball earlier on day two, Australia’s electric final hour decimated the great work the tourists had done.
So hot have Australia been and so poor have England been that the first innings defeat of the series is not out of the question.
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England will resume their second dig still trailing by 51 runs, with Root on 12 and all-rounder Ben Stokes on two.
“I know what (the dressing room) should be like. They should be devastated with the way they’ve played,” Chappell said.
“They keep talking about showing fight but all they do is talk about it; they don’t show it.
“Australia would be cock-a-hoop.”
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