India legend Sunil Gavaskar believes that England should have played more first-class matches before touring Australia for the Ashes series 2025/26.
Writing in his column for Sportstar, Gavaskar said: “England’s win, even though it came in the fourth Test with the series already lost, does prove once again that the more you play, the better you will get, especially in unfamiliar overseas conditions… The point, therefore, is should England have played a few more First-Class games before the first Test? The ‘ares’ do not agree with the ‘has-beens’ here.”
England won the fourth Test against Australia by four wickets at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) despite being 3-0 down in the series. England’s bowlers were impressive throughout the match on a pitch that offered plenty of assistance to the pacers. In the first innings, Josh Tongue starred with a five-wicket haul, while Brydon Carse picked up four wickets in the second innings.
Gavaskar believes that to develop the skills required for Test cricket, players need to play more first-class matches.
“[The modern batter] thinks counter-attack is the answer, when a little bit of patience, with some deep breaths taken to slow down the adrenaline, might help in reducing the bat speed and the big swing, so even if he miscues or edges, the ball may not carry to the fielder. But then, if he hardly plays any First-Class cricket, how will he mentally get used to adjusting to the required rhythm of a Test match?”
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