Before this series started, Ben Stokes told the world that any ex-players who criticised England or had a different opinion were “has-beens” because Test cricket had changed and the past was irrelevant.

Well, from this has-been the message is simple: when you keep throwing away Test matches by doing the same stupid things, it is impossible to take you seriously.

England captain Ben Stokes has overseen another calamity.Credit: Getty Images

They never learn, because they never listen to anyone outside their own bubble, because they truly believe their own publicity.

Now it has bitten them in an Ashes Test, the biggest challenge of all and unless they mount a spectacular comeback, they will regret it for a very long time.

It is simple. Brainless batting and bowling lost England the match. A 40-run lead on a fast, bouncy, low-scoring pitch was huge and, with Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope together at one stage, England were in charge at effectively 100 for one. But as exciting as this England team can be, they are always only a blink of an eye away from self-destruction.

Duckett got a good ball but Pope gave it away for the second time in this match, driving at a very wide ball outside off stump. How can he not realise it is a sucker ball tempting him........

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