It’s time for supporters and management to decide what they want with England going into the second game of the Ashes 1-0 down. If entertainment is the sole criteria, that box has been ticked. The first Test was great to watch, and the mentality of the side, their attitude and bravery, was so impressive. It is not just hype: they are invigorating Test cricket and it is wonderful to see these talented players being let off the leash. It is no coincidence that Sky smashed its record viewing figures for the format, as fans enjoyed five days of exciting cricket played on a surface that would surely otherwise have guaranteed a boring draw.
But whatever Ben Stokes says about this team not being a results-oriented group, in my experience supporters and sportspeople like to win. And for all the enjoyment of the match they will look back and wonder if they always made the right calls. In every team I’ve played in this has been a fun part of being a cricketer: to sit after a game, perhaps with a drink, and discuss the exciting moments, what went well and perhaps what can be improved. I would assume that with the number of backroom staff and the amount of playing experience inside the England dressing room, they would be open to these sorts of discussions even if outwardly there is a complete lack of introspection: they just double down on everything, no doubts, no remorse.
