Racing
League
Rugby
Cricket
Golf
Motorsport
Combat Sports
Football
Netball
Basketball
Other Sports
Sport Nation
SELECT đ Bay Oval feed
McGain: âTone deafâ England have not listened
SEN ⢠ December 22nd, 2025 11:16 am
Former Australian spinner Bryce McGain cannot believe Englandâs naive approach to this Ashes series.
The Poms have continually gone about their business in their very own way and although it has worked at times, ultimately they find themselves 3-0 down on Australian shores.
McGain was referencing Jamie Smithâs gung-ho dismissal on Day 5 of the Adelaide Test when he holed out attempting to find the boundary once again after hitting four consecutive fours on his way to 60.
Smithâs wicket dampened Englandâs run chase which ended 82 runs short and allowed the Aussies to retain the urn.
It was a âtone deafâ approach, as it has been all series, according to McGain.
âHe just got carried away, and I guess the Australians know that,â McGain said on SEN Breakfast.
âThey know in these conditions you donât need to do it, youâve just got to keep extending.
âHeâs gone 4,4,4,4, heâs blazing it everywhere, and then itâs done, itâs over. Had he kept going with the formula...
âI think the thing England arenât getting, and thereâs been articles written about it, but theyâre tone deaf for the knowledge that everyone is giving them.â
McGain believes England have buried their heads in the sand and have simply not listened to any advice on offer.
âSteve Smith has said you canât play in Australia the way they (England) do, you just canât do it. So Steve Smith told them,â he continued.
âMitchell Starc said to the bowling lineup itâs one thing to bowl with a Dukeâs ball in England on soft wickets. Here is like bowling on concrete, and it hurts, and itâs painful. Thatâs what theyâre going to have to do Test after Test after Test.
âThey havenât been able to do it. They canât stand up to the rigours, theyâre not prepared.
âTheir former captain Michael Vaughan - who had success over here - said this is how you need to play, and theyâre not doing it.
âTheyâre not listening, theyâre tone deaf, theyâve got cotton wool in their ears. All the advice has been presented to them. You need to respect where youâre playing.â
McGain says England have acted like they know better, and itâs bitten them on the bum.
âThe Kookaburra ball gets old and soft, so thereâs no point going dashing at the top of the order. It will get old and soft and batting becomes easier, it will happen,â McGain said further.
âBut no, no, no - their top order knows better. All the advice has been given to you and theyâve been shoving cotton wool in their ears and they donât listen.
âThatâs why they are 3-0 down. All the answers have been presented to them. But they havenât listened, they knew better.
âThey donât know better, and theyâve been shown up for it in the spotlight. Itâs nearly embarrassing the amount of good quality advice, even from the Australian camp, and they thought they knew better.â
The fourth Test at the MCG kicks off on Boxing Day this Friday.
