Former England batter Mark Ramprakash has criticised the team's management for their handling of young talent Jacob Bethell during what he describes as a "bewildering and disappointing" Ashes tour of Australia.
A Tough Ask for a Young Batter
Ramprakash expressed particular frustration at seeing Bethell thrown in at the deep end at No. 3 in the batting order during the fourth Test in Melbourne. Drawing from his own early career experiences, Ramprakash argued that when selectors have faith in a young player, they should do everything possible to help them succeed.
"He’s very highly rated, plays quick bowlers well and has a good temperament, but he is also young and inexperienced," Ramprakash noted. "As he walked out 15 balls into England’s first innings, it felt like a really tough ask." He contrasted this with his own introduction to the top level, where he was initially placed at No. 6 to adjust to the standard.
Melbourne Victory Amidst Chaos
The critique comes despite England's morale-boosting victory at the MCG, which prevented a series whitewash after losses in Perth and Melbourne earlier in the series. Ramprakash acknowledged the team's determination and competitive spirit in fighting for pride with the Ashes already lost.
He highlighted the performance of seamer Josh Tongue as the "big success story" of the talent identification system under director of cricket Rob Key, praising his seven-wicket haul and simple, effective basics. Brydon Carse also earned credit for rediscovering a good length after struggling earlier in the series.
Self-Inflicted Distractions
Ramprakash also addressed the off-field controversy surrounding the squad's trip to Noosa, which generated negative headlines. While captain Ben Stokes praised the management for helping the team refocus, Ramprakash offered a starker view.
"The whole thing was very hard to comprehend," he wrote. "The players were told, in the middle of the biggest series of their lives, to let their hair down... the negative headlines that followed were in effect written by England’s coaches and management." He concluded that the resulting mess was entirely of the team's own making.
As the tour moves to its final Test in Sydney, Ramprakash suggests that while the Ashes are gone, there is still much at stake for the future of the England setup and those in charge. The focus will be on whether they can learn from the turbulence of the tour and end on a high note.
