Michael Atherton has certainly not been shy for words while assessing Ashley Giles ' tenure as managing director of England men's cricket, following his departure from the role on Wednesday.
Giles has become the first casualty from England's Ashes debacle, with Australia comfortably retaining the urn after winning the series 4-0.
More departures are expected, including that of head coach Chris Silverwood, but Atherton feels Giles has paid the price for "failing to get the big decisions around personnel and structure right".
Giles was the man who appointed Silverwood as Trevor Bayliss' successor, decided against splitting the head coach role between red and white ball cricket and axed the national selector.
Writing in the Times , Atherton was critical of his role in England's humbling Ashes defeat and accused him of being "self-serving" when he spoke to the media after the Boxing Day Test.
"Giles has paid the price for the decline in the performances of the Test team principally and for failing to get the big decisions around personnel and structure right," Atherton wrote.
"This year nine Tests were lost, a record, amid four consecutive series defeats. There has been one win in the past 14 Tests.
"Throughout, it has been difficult to discern any progression, culminating in a shocking performance in the Ashes.
"Giles was keen to pass off responsibility for the Ashes failure by emphasising the structural weaknesses of county cricket, the disadvantages of the schedule and the limitations imposed by Covid restrictions.
"While none of these factors can be discounted — and indeed elicit a great deal of sympathy — Giles’s press conference in Sydney was self-serving and his report is likely to have been similarly so."
Sir Andrew Strauss will replace Giles on an interim basis while the ECB search for his replacement and he will help "put in place arrangements for the forthcoming West Indies Tour" which takes place in March.
