Ryan Sidebottom slams Brendon McCullum’s England ‘over prepared’ claim ahead of third Ashes Test

With England staring down the barrel in the Ashes and Adelaide looming like a storm cloud, former international and county quick Ryan Sidebottom has ripped into the team’s arrangements Down Under, and dismissed Brendon McCullum’s claim that England have “over prepared” as nothing more than an excuse.

Back-to-back defeats in Perth and Brisbane have left Ben Stokes’ side clinging to the series by their fingertips. 

Australia have dominated every major battle so far – outbowling, outbatting and outthinking England. 

Now the third Test in Adelaide, a venue where England have repeatedly struggled, threatens to turn a bad tour into a full-scale disaster.

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Warning signs

Sidebottom, who has watched England crumble in two straight Tests, says the warning signs were obvious long before the series began.

“You could argue and say that England are only ready for their first Test now, with already two done,” he shared exclusively with BOYLE Sports.

“I don’t want to criticise this England team because we’ve enjoyed watching them, but I think they’ve become a one-dimensional team that is very talented. 

“They forget that Test match cricket is about the mental and technical side, playing the moments and being in the moment to read the pitch, reading the situation.”

The rot

As Australia’s quicks have rampaged and England’s top order has folded under pressure, Sidebottom believes the rot set in weeks before a ball was bowled.

“The preparation wasn’t ideal,” he said. “You’re playing a flat wicket and then playing a fast, bouncy wicket in a warm-up match against the England Lions. 

“Then you send Jacob Bethell and one or two other players to play with a pink ball against Australia A ahead of Brisbane. 

“None of our top order or top eight played in that match.”

He said England walked mindlessly into an Ashes cauldron without replicating real conditions or real pressure.

“They then go in the nets and practise with a pink ball,” Sidebottom added. “But it’s not under lights. It’s not under any pressure-like situation.”

Excuse

So when McCullum publicly claimed England had “over prepared”, Sidebottom couldn’t believe what he was hearing: “And then McCullum comes out and says that we’ve ‘over prepared’. 

“Well, that to me is an excuse because, you know, you practise smart. 

“You look at India when they’ve been to Australia. They practised on the wicket under lights to replicate as closely as possible the experience of playing against Australia with a pink ball. And England didn’t do that.”

With Australia’s top order feasting on England’s attack and the home side’s bowlers relentlessly hammering the perfect areas, Sidebottom says the gulf in discipline has been glaring.

“Another thing that stood out for me is how poorly England bowled, and very poorly in that second Test,” he explained. 

“We’re missing a swing bowler or a guy that pitches a ball up and makes a ball seam and move around. 

“We’ve got back of a length bowlers who bowl 90 mph. If you don’t put the ball in the right area 18, 20 times out of 24, you’re not going to take many wickets.”

Predictable

The result was painfully predictable according to Sidebottom, and Australia cashed in without mercy. 

England’s lengths were all over the shop, the pressure evaporated, and the hosts filled their boots.

“You need to be in and around 70, 80% on a length or just back of a length, challenging the stumps,” Sidebottom says. “And they haven’t done that. 

“You can see why Australia played so well. Every player got into double figures.

“Now that tells you something in a game. You don’t tend to see that. That shows how poorly England bowled.”

And with the Ashes slipping away, Sidebottom stated Stokes cannot drag this team through the fire alone – no matter how superhuman his efforts.

“It shouldn’t just be down to an individual or another figure alongside Stokes,” he said.

“This team has been together for quite some time now… the rest have to take a little bit more responsibility on themselves. 

“One for their own games and to back each other up a little bit more.”

Consequences

For him, the message is simple: England’s senior men either show up now, or the series is gone: “This is where your senior players, your Roots, Ducketts, Crawleys, Popes, they’ve all been around for quite some time now, they have all got to contribute more and do more for the team. 

“You can’t just leave it all to one player, although he’s the captain; it’s not down to one player.”

And if they fail again in Adelaide? Sidebottom makes the consequences crystal clear: “If they just rely on Stokes or Root, we won’t win a single game. 

“I really fear it’ll be 5-0, and I’m sure a few heads will roll if that’s the case. If England win in Adelaide, though, I don’t see why we can’t go on further.”

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