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Is Brendon McCullum the Ted Lasso of cricket?
Riccardo Ball • December 9th, 2025 9:21 am
As the old adage goes: over-preparing is preparing to fail – or so England cricket coach Brendon McCullum will tell you.
But two Tests in to this 2025/26 Ashes series, we have had just six days if play and two eight-wicket losses for the visitors.
When a group of former England players with 255 Ashes Tests to their credit are telling you that you’ve got it wrong, maybe you need to listen.
Not playing a warm-up game in Perth backfired, not playing any pink-ball cricket before a day-night Test backfired, and now they’re playing golf and going to the beach before Adelaide.
I had to check I wasn’t on some sports satire website when I read those comments - is this the Ted Lasso of cricket?
The only career that wins here is that of David Brent, who I’m sure Ricky Gervais is getting ready to breathe new life into based on the management alphabet soup being served up by the England camp.
The England fans, the former England players and the wider sports media can see that this isn’t working - how long until Ben Stokes and his teammates realise the Emperor Baz’s New Clothes are just an idea with little to no substance?
Tune into Riccardo Ball on Sport Nation Mornings from 9am weekdays - co-hosting with Ian Smith Mondays to Wednesdays, and Alex Chapman on Thursdays and Fridays.
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