Our guys just collapse under pressure, Australians will be queuing up to bowl at us: Geoffrey Boycott

Indian bowlers ran through the hosts’ batting lineup to secure a thumping win in the fourth Test match. Former England captain Geoffrey Boycott has thus raised concerns over England’s batting. He slammed the team for their performances in the five-match Test series against India so far.

England’s batting order wasn’t able to provide enough resistance as the team was wrapped up at 210 on the final day of the fourth Test. Their batters have been placed under scrutiny for not holding the fort of the team. Geoffrey Boycott feels that with Ashes on cards, the Australian pacers like Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood will be raring to bowl to the England batters after having witnessed their disappointing performances in the fourth Test at The Oval.

“The Australians will have watched the footage from The Oval. Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood will be queuing up to bowl at us. The England batsmen need to stand in front of a mirror and be honest with themselves. Whatever it is, change it because it is not working. Everybody has nerves, expectations, and heightened emotions when batting but we have to conquer them and play well. Our guys just collapse under pressure,” Boycott wrote in his column for The Telegraph.

To be a top team you can’t be a one-man band: Geoffrey Boycott

India exuded great character to clinch victory and go 2-1 up in the five-match Test series against England. For the hosts, captain Joe Root has been the stand-out player. He is currently the highest run-getter in the series having chipped in 564 runs to his account.

Root has hit three centuries and a half-century and has consistently contributed for the side. Although openers Haseeb Hameed and Rory Burns provided steady starts to the team in the third and fourth Test, England’s batting lineup has been largely dependent on their skipper to deliver. Boycott reckoned that to be recognized as a top team, other players too need to take the responsibility for the team. He further pointed that the fans no longer pin their confidence in England’s batters.

“Put bluntly, England are not good enough. When England wins, you feel Joe has to bat exceptionally well to give us a chance. But to be a top team you can’t be a one-man-band. Other guys have to stand up and do the business. Most England cricket supporters sit on the edge of their seats when we are batting wondering how the hell are we going to play. They don’t have confidence in our batsmen,” Geoffrey Boycott said.