Former England captain Geoffrey Boycott has urged the visitors not to let the negative talk in the newspapers affect them during the upcoming Ashes series. The 85-year-old said that England will need to “steel themselves” from the words written in the Australian press, admitting that some of it could be downright “nasty”.
“The West Australian” newspaper had called Ben Stokes “Cocky Captain Complainer” after he reached the country, a fortnight before the first Ashes Test at Perth on November 21.
“Then there are the Australian newspapers, who have already started having digs at Stokes. If you think our journalists offer criticism, then you ain’t seen nothing until you go on an England tour of Australia.”
“It is mainly negative coverage, some of it downright nasty, and it will continue throughout the tour. They treat individuals and the team as fair game and if they can beat you down so that their country demolishes you, then they believe they have done a good job. Steel yourselves, get ready for it, and don’t let the bulls— get you down – then you have an even chance,” Boycott wrote in his “The Telegraph” column.
Boycott also wrote that certain sections of the public in Australia hated the English, adding that the crowds could abuse the players while standing on the boundary, the effect of which could last for a while.
“On home soil Australia have a good, combative team who are accustomed to their bouncier pitches. The crowds are very partisan to the point where, when you are fielding near the boundary, they give you a hard time with harsh vocals, sometimes abuse, which can be wearing over many days.”
“They know it can get to some guys and affect their performances and that is what they want. Anything to help their country gain an advantage to beat the mother country is their aim. You have to understand that many of the population are good, fair-minded people, but there are others who hate us,” he wrote.
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The series will start in Perth on November 21, with Steve Smith leading the hosts in the absence of Pat Cummins, who is looking to return for the second Test at Brisbane.
