Glen McGrath is astonished that England has failed to win a Test in Australia for so many years.
England seems unable to find the path to the success they desire across the Tasman. The wait for a single Test victory in Australia keeps stretching, yet McGrath does not attribute this continuous failure to a lack of skill among the English players. According to the Australian pace bowling legend, the problem is mental.
The last time England won an Ashes series in Australia was in the 2010–11 season. Fifteen years have passed since, and the losing streak remains unbroken. England has not managed to win a single Test on Australian soil since that series.
This time, however, England arrived with big dreams and sky-high expectations. There was talk before the series that the team would return home with the famous Ashes urn.
Some in the English media even described the Australian team as “old.” English pace great Stuart Broad called them, “the worst Australian side in the last 15 years.”
Yet, that same Australian side won the first three Tests in just 11 days, securing the Ashes—without their regular captain Pat Cummins in the first two matches, without Steven Smith in the third, and without experienced pacer Josh Hazlewood in any Test.
McGrath credits Australia’s experienced players for defeating England. He also told BBC Sport that he finds it hard to believe England’s long string of failures.
“It’s incredible that the England team hasn’t been able to win a Test here (in Australia) for so long. I don’t believe England’s extended run of failure is due to a lack of skill among their players,” he said.
“Think of the players who have been part of England’s Ashes squads here since their last win—Alastair Cook, Kevin Pietersen, James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer. The list goes on. Joe Root and Ben Stokes are the pillars of the current team and two of England’s great cricketers, yet neither has ever won a Test here in Australia.”
In 15 years, England has played 18 Tests in Australia, winning none and losing 16. McGrath sees no reason to question the players’ abilities. In his view, England is losing to mindset.
“If this long drought isn’t about ability, then it’s certainly about mentality. I often hear English players say how tough it is to play in Australia—not just because of what happens on the field, but also the atmosphere off it.”
England still has a chance to break the losing streak. Two more Tests remain in the series: the Boxing Day Test starts Friday in Melbourne, and the final match begins January 4 in Sydney.
