Ashes 2023: England’s decision to declare on 393/8 was wildly arrogant, says Brett Geeves

London, June 24 : Former Australia fast bowler Brett Geeves has called Englands decision to declare on 393/8 on day one of the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston as "wildly arrogant" and added that the hosts ultra-attacking approach cant hold up in the highly-anticipated series.

England captain Ben Stokes decision to declare at 393/8, with Joe Root notching up 118 not out, on the first day of the Edgbaston Test in the Ashes has been called by a few experts as the main reason behind the hosts two-wicket loss.

"It sets them (England) up to fail and to me it kind of feels like even if we lose were playing the best cricket and we have won anyway.Thats not how it works.Particularly against Australia in the Ashes.

""In particular if England have this mindset of wild arrogance and thats what that declaration was.It was wildly arrogant to think that (8/393) was enough in the first innings on a very flat wicket," said Geeves to SEN Radio.Geeves firmly believed that Englands surprise declaration played a part in Australia winning the match, with captain Pat Cummins being 44 not out in a chase of 281 on last days play.

"And yes, absolutely, they (Australia) won the game on the back of the Englishs ridiculously dumb declaration.There is no doubt that England played a part in their win.""They could have come back the next day and tried to bat for another 50 or 60 runs which would have batted Australia out of the game, only one team would have been able to win the game had they made 450 or 460 and that was England.""And its because of the arrogance surrounding their approach to the game.8/393 declared, you dont do that in Test match cricket.You dont do that across a five-day game when Joe Root is 118 not out."Now 1-0 behind, England will be aiming to make a comeback in the second Ashes Test, starting at Lords from June 28.Geeves, who played one ODI and two T20Is apart from a long domestic career in first-class cricket, was unimpressed with Englands coach Brendon McCullum telling the players that he was proud of them despite suffering a loss in Edgbaston."There was (an) article that I was reading that quotes Brendon McCullum in terms of their loss, theyre in the changerooms and Brendon spoke first and he says; Lads, I am immensely proud of the effort you put in.We have made the game what it was.We were so close to pulling off an unbelievable victory.We played all the cricket in the game.

If it wasnt for us the Australians wouldnt have even had a chance to win.""It is just a really disrespectful approach to the performances of Pat Cummins and the performance of the run chase and their ability to hold England to 276 in the best batting conditions of the game," he concluded.

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