Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has delivered a blistering assessment of England’s disastrous 2025–26 Ashes campaign, labelling them “paper tigers” and claiming their much-publicised Bazball philosophy has been exposed at the highest level.

England’s tour of Australia ended on a disappointing note, with Australia sealing a commanding 4–1 series victory. However, England managed to salvage pride with a win in Melbourne, their first on Australian soil in 14 years, but it didn't save the series for them, as the Ashes urn had already slipped through their hands. 

“England’s performances in most sports are a huge let-down when set against the write-ups their teams receive from people who have hardly, if ever, played any sport at the highest level. The disappointment, therefore, is far greater when the teams show that they are more paper tigers than real ones,” Gavaskar wrote in his column for Sportstar. 

“McCullum brought the same freshness to England’s cricket, and that took the rest of the cricketing world by surprise. Gone was the dreary, dull cricket they played, and suddenly, the opposition did not know how to counter it. However, as with so-called mystery bowlers, the surprise wore off. Once teams realised that England had little answer whenever the ball deviated, provided the pitches were not flat, the problems became evident,” Gavaskar stated. 

The series unravelled at alarming speed for England. Australia stormed to victories in the opening three Tests in Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide, sealing the series in just 11 days. Gavaskar further highlighted how England didn't play according to the situation. 

"With their media making excuses for them about pitches when they were overseas, the batters refused to change their approach and bat according to the situation. With the management also ignoring some of the unforgivable and irresponsible shots played by the batters, the fear of being left out simply is not there. Valuing playing for your country and putting a minimum price of a century on your wicket is something only the great Joe Root does,” he wrote.