Former England Test cricketer Mark Butcher has criticised the current squad for their 'go-slow' tactics in the fifth and final Ashes Test, saying that they have left Australia feeling comfortable instead of demoralising and humiliating them.
According to BBC, although the Oval Test was supposed to feel like a celebration for England to rejoice in an Ashes series not just won but dominated, it however, had a flat mood as England continued to score slowly on Friday by taking a mere 65 runs in a woeful morning session and just 66 in 34 overs in the evening.
Stating that the third day of the final Test was a reflection of the way England have gone into the entire match, Butcher, who was often on the wrong end of crushing Ashes series defeats in his 71 Tests, said that instead of demoralising and humiliating the tourists like Ricky Ponting vowed to do after 2005, they left Australia feeling comfortable.
According to Butcher, instead of England celebrating a victory parade, they will have to see Australia return back thinking that they do not have as much to worry about the return series as they initially thought, instead of slinking away with their tail tucked between their legs.
Slamming England for failing to get Australia in a state of total disarray without an idea of what their top order will be in the return series, Butcher also said that England has unfortunately let all-rounder Shane Watson and Steve Smith to get set and failed to expose rival captain Michael Clarke's lack of form.
Meanwhile, the report said that a draw is almost certain with a heavy rain forecast for Saturday and England 247-4 at the close on Friday, although Butcher does not expect wild celebrations, saying that although 3-0 sounds like a drubbing, Australia will come out of the series with much more credit than the score suggested.
Butcher said that once Australia went past 450, England may have reasoned that they are unlikely to win the game, although he added that it is the professional approach in the worst sense.
