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"Monumental fail" : Healy criticises 'deflating' England performance
Nicholas Quinlan • December 9th, 2025 3:23 pm
A lack of preparation for Australian conditions, is what Ian Healy thinks has resulted in England being 2-nil down in the Ashes.
With eight-wicket losses at Perth Stadium and the Gabba, the visitors are now well and truly behind the eight ball as they attempt to keep their slim hopes of a series win alive.
Given that the build-up of the five-match series has been much hyped, the former Australian wicketkeeper expressed his disappointment with how England has played so far.
“It’s a very deflating performance so far,” Healy told SEN.
“The optimism we had before any contest was very high. We thought that this was going to be the close Ashes (in Australia) that we’ve been craving since the 60s.
“It’s been a monumental fail by England; they have misread everything.
“I don’t know how there could be so many people that don’t know any better in decision-making positions of English Cricket that have let this itinerary become approved.
“They’ve just got nothing because they haven’t been training. They are not fit enough, they are not bowling fit enough (and) the batsmen haven’t made enough big runs of recent times. So, they are all fresh and green, and they’re not working hard enough.
“It’s very disappointing that it has been such a farce for them.”
Healy also noted that their only preparation in Australia was a three-day match at Lilac Hill against the England Lions, which, in his view, was not enough, believing that they should learn from how the successful touring sides of 1986/87 and 2010/11 prepared.
“To me, it looks like, and it doesn’t surprise me, but the English quicks haven’t had enough cricket under their belt or experience,” he said.
“That’s why you need close to a month’s preparation of playing games in Australia.
“Everyone was saying that, and the two sides that have done that for England in Australia, 86/87 and 2010/11. They gave themselves a chance of being ready for the First Test.
“And guess what? You win (the series).
“It has been incredibly naive, and they have thrown convention out of the window, and it hasn’t worked.”
The third Test at the Adelaide Oval begins on December 17, with SEN having LIVE coverage of every ball bowled throughout the series through its radio network and on the SEN app.
