"I’d be asking the ECB for a refund" - Former captain's brutal dig at England for another loss in Ashes 2025-26

Former England captain Ian Botham slammed the Ben Stokes-led side following their eight-wicket loss in the second Ashes Test against Australia in Brisbane on Sunday, December 7. The legendary all-rounder said that he would ask the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for a refund, adding that the team wasn’t prepared for the challenge.

Notably, England were no match for the Aussies in the second Ashes Test in all three facets of the game. They dropped five catches in the contest.

Botham said on Triple M Radio (via News.com.au):

“If I was an England supporter and had paid the money to come here, I’d be asking the ECB for a refund. Because this team, for me, is not prepared.”

The 70-year-old said that the team should have played the pink-ball practice match against Prime Minister XI rather than sending a second-string team to Canberra ahead of the day/night Test. He continued:

“They missed a trick. They could’ve sent the team that was going to play in this Test to Canberra and had some experience with the pink ball. What do we do? ‘No, we don’t need to’. Well I suggest you do need to. You dropped five catches the other day. England could’ve been ahead,” he added.

The tourists posted 334 in their first innings, thanks to Joe Root’s maiden Test century on Australian soil. The bowlers, however, failed to show up as the Aussies piled up 511 in their first innings. In response, the visitors surrendered for 241 in their second innings. Later, Steve Smith-led side made light work of a 65-run chase, winning the match by eight wickets. Earlier, they lost the series opener by the same margin in Perth.

“Overprepared” – England coach reacts to second Ashes Test loss

England head coach Brendon McCullum stressed that the team lost the second Ashes Test because they were overprepared. He said (via BBC):

“We had five intense training sessions leading into this game. Sometimes there is a tendency to overdo things to make up for it. If anything, we trained too much.”

Meanwhile, skipper Ben Stokes acknowledged that the team failed to deliver under pressure. He said (via BBC):

“Do we need to start thinking about what mentality we are taking into those pressure moments? When we are on top, we are great, and when behind the game, we are also very good, but when that moment is neck and neck, we are not coming out on top on enough occasions."

“There is a saying that we have said a lot here - Australia is not for weak men. A dressing room that I am captain of is not a place for weak men either,” he added.

England have not won a single Ashes Test in Australia since a 3-1 win during their 2010/11 tour. With regular Australia captain Pat Cummins favorite to return for the third Ashes Test after recovering from injury, the tourists will face another stiff competition. Adelaide will host the third game, beginning December 17.