England Collapses to 110 in Boxing Day Test as Leadership and Selection Criticized
England were bowled out for 110 runs in just 29.5 overs during the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, with Duckett scoring 2 off 5 balls and Bethell 1 off 5, both falling early to the Australian bowlers Starc and Neser. Harry Brook top-scored with 41 as England’s innings collapsed following the early wickets amidst a green-tinged MCG pitch, chilly conditions, and a large crowd of about 90,000 spectators.
Prior to the match, concerns about the team environment and leadership were highlighted. Duckett’s recent off-field incident and a pre-match address by Rob Key underscored unease within England’s cricket setup. Bethell, who was controversially selected at number three despite having played only three red-ball matches in the last twelve months, was described as being mismanaged and exposed by the selection and coaching regime.
The performance and events of the day were framed as symptomatic of broader systemic failures at the top of England’s cricket governance, with criticism directed at the regime for inadequate preparation and poor oversight of players.
