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'The First Thing England Need To Do Is...': Nasser Hussain Pinpoints England's Weakness Ahead of 4th Test

image-lk7x165mJonny Bairstow has been subpar with the gloves in Ashes 2023

In his recent column for the Daily Mail, former England skipper, Nasser Hussain, has criticised the English side's overall fielding performance in the Ashes 2023, pinpointing dropped catches as a major setback.

Hussain calls for improvement in England's fielding

Hussain strongly believes that if the England team had shown greater competence in catching, they could be leading the series 2-1 or possibly even 3-0, instead of trailing 2-1. Remarkably, England has been plagued by a total of 17 dropped catches and missed stumpings in the first three Tests.

Hussain pointed out that improving their catching skills is the primary requirement for the hosts. Such fielding lapses have drawn unwelcome attention, particularly towards wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow. However, the erstwhile cricketer has dismissed the idea that Bairstow alone is responsible for this predicament, instead attributing it to a team-wide failure.

Hussain reckoned that the catching has been a significant factor in their current 2-1 deficit in the series.

“The first thing England need to do is catch better. A lot of people have been focusing on Jonny Bairstow, but the team in general have not caught well - and it’s one of the reasons they’re 2-1 down, not 2-1 up, or even 3-0 up. A total of 17 dropped catches and missed stumpings have cost England 447 runs in the first three Tests,” wrote Hussain.


The 55-year-old emphasized the difficulty of dismissing a strong team like Australia, as it is already challenging to take 20 wickets in a match. However, he pointed out that the England team has been creating an excessive number of chances, requiring them to generate 25 or 26 opportunities per game. The English veteran stressed the need for improvement in this aspect when they play in Manchester, starting Wednesday, July 19.

“It’s hard enough taking 20 wickets against a side as good as Australia, without needing to create 25 or 26 chances per game. Things have to improve in Manchester,” added Hussain.

Meanwhile, England recently announced their playing XI for the fourth Test at Old Trafford. In what is a solitary change, veteran seamer James Anderson has made a return, replacing Ollie Robinson.