Former India cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra has delivered a sharp critique of the England cricket team and its supporters following their comprehensive defeat in the Ashes 2025 series. His comments came after Australia retained the coveted urn by taking an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series on Sunday, December 21, 2025.
The Crushing Defeat and Urn Retention
The decisive moment arrived during a tense final day of the third Test. Australia, led by stand-in captain Steve Smith in the absence of Pat Cummins, needed just four wickets to seal the series. England, resuming at 6-207, required a mammoth 228 more runs to achieve a world-record chase of 435. However, any hopes of a miraculous comeback were dashed by pace spearhead Mitchell Starc, who claimed three of the final four wickets to blunt England's resistance. This victory ensured Australia retained the Ashes with two matches still to play in Melbourne and Sydney.
This result extends England's miserable Test record on Australian soil. It has now been 5,462 days since England last won a Test match in Australia, a victory dating back to January 2011. Since that win, Australia has dominated at home with series scores of 5-0, 4-0, 4-0, and now a 3-0 lead (and counting) in the current campaign.
Chopra's Stinging Commentary on Social Media
Reacting to the one-sided series, Aakash Chopra took to social media platform X to express his views, aiming his remarks at the pre-series hype and the current English mindset. He sarcastically referenced the buildup before the 2025 Ashes, where several English pundits had labelled Ben Stokes's side as "the best England team" to tour Australia.
"Can't wait for the build-up for the next time England goes to Australia. Surely, that'll be the best English team to play #TheAshes. And the English cricket fans will lap it up. Can't blame them either…they've embraced 'entertainment' over 'results' already," Chopra posted.
This pointed observation highlights a perceived shift in priorities for the English team and its fanbase, suggesting a greater emphasis on aggressive, entertaining cricket (often associated with the 'Bazball' philosophy) even at the cost of tangible success in the form of series victories.
Series Context and What Lies Ahead
Australia's path to retention was built on commanding performances. They secured 8-wicket victories in both the Perth and Brisbane Tests under Steve Smith's leadership, with regular captain Pat Cummins absent. Cummins returned for the third Test, while Smith missed it due to vertigo.
England, who entered the series with significant confidence, now faces the grim prospect of a 5-0 whitewash. The action now shifts to the traditional Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), starting December 26, followed by the final Test in Sydney in the New Year. These matches now become a battle for pride for the visitors and an opportunity for Australia to cement a historic clean sweep.
The series outcome and Chopra's comments have sparked widespread debate about the effectiveness of England's ultra-aggressive Test strategy in the toughest overseas conditions, especially when pitted against a clinical and powerful Australian side.
