Gavaskar Slams England's Ashes Prep: 'Should Have Played More First-Class Games'

• Sunil Gavaskar criticized England's Ashes preparation in Australia, citing a lack of first-class practice matches.
• England broke a 15-year winless streak in Australia by winning the fourth Ashes Test at MCG, a match criticized for its bowler-friendly pitch.
• Gavaskar highlighted that modern batters struggle in red-ball cricket due to white-ball influence, making long innings difficult on challenging pitches.
• He emphasized the importance of proper first-class cricket preparation, especially for unfamiliar overseas conditions, a point reinforced by England's rare win.
• England's only long-form practice before the Ashes was a three-day game against the England Lions, drawing criticism from former cricketers.

Why It Matters: Gavaskar: England's Ashes struggles stem from insufficient first-class preparation.