“Their bats are only producing edges”-Sunil Gavaskar criticises England’s batting in Ashes 2025-26

Australia and England are facing each other in the fifth and final Test of the ongoing Ashes 2025–26 series. The two teams locked horns at the Sydney Cricket Ground on December 4. At the end of the day’s play, England were 211/3, showing a much better performance with the bat.

It is important to note that England have already lost the Ashes, as Australia won the first three Tests of the series. England managed to win the fourth Test. Speaking about England’s batting struggles in the series so far, former India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar criticised the English players for mocking India during the Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy, only to face a similar situation now.

“All those English players who mocked Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar when they chose to bat on and complete their centuries, instead of accepting the offer to leave the field, will now realise that Test match centuries do not come every day. Those who mocked them back then are now finding in Australia that their bats are only producing edges or missing the middle,” Gavaskar wrote in his column for Mid-Day.

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England Hope for More of the Same on Day 2

“Both the Indian batters had battled their way to their individual 80s and frustrated the bowlers. With another Test still to go, they were doing the tactical thing by keeping the fielders in the sun for some more time, and they were perfectly entitled to do so. Cricket is a great leveller, and anyone who shows arrogance instead of confidence learns that lesson very quickly,” he added.

It is worth noting that England looked solid with the bat on Day 1 of the fifth Test. Joe Root and Harry Brook were the standout performers for the visitors. Root ended the day unbeaten on 72 runs, while Brook remained not out on 78. Both batters will hope to continue the same form on Day 2 as they look to complete their centuries.