Things are looking bleak for the England men’s Test team

From the very first ball when Mitchell Starc clean bowled Rory Burns to start the series, things have gone from bad to worse, and then even worse still, writes Ben Burrows

England crashed to an Ashes series defeat in just 12 days in Australia (PA)

Anyone who has watched England’s Test team play over the past 12 months feared this was coming.

The victory in Sri Lanka in January appeared to suggest better was on the way. A win in the series-opener against the mighty India later that month hinted even further at something special. But the remainder of that series set the real tone – three consecutive losses – before a series defeat to New Zealand and a lacklustre display against India again, this time on home soil, followed.

The final and most painful ignominy was still to come, however. England travelled Down Under full of hope, if not too much expectation, given their previous record on Australian soil, that they could prevail where others had failed before them and win back the Ashes.

Instead, any flicker of positivity has been thoroughly and comprehensively beaten out of them by a rampant Australia, with the famous old urn lost once more all inside just 12 days. It is a low point among low points for Joe Root’s side, whose flailing attempts to find some semblance of stability in their fragile batting order now resembles the rearranging of furniture on a famously doomed cruise liner.

Everything they have tried on this tour has failed. From the very first ball when Mitchell Starc clean bowled Rory Burns to start the series, things have gone from bad to worse, and then even worse still.

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Defeat in Melbourne last time out was the nadir as the tourists once again collapsed and sank without a trace, amassing just 68 in the process and giving the hosts an innings victory after just seven sessions of play.

The even worse news for England is their misery isn’t even close to over yet. Two more Tests remain with Australia sure to go for the jugular and a 5-0 series whitewash.

It has been a year to forget for England’s men’s Test team. And if these last few weeks are anything to go by, the start of 2022 could be even worse.

Yours,

Ben Burrows

Sports editor