Thread by @shaunjlawson

I grew up at a time when the England cricket team was a national punchline, a continual laughing stock. It went on for well over a decade.

But no way, NO WAY would those sides of the 90s have just surrendered like this. And they were up against all-time great opponents. #Ashes

Gooch: an incredible batsman
Atherton: stoic, indomitable at his best
Stewart: got so much more out of the side when taking over as captain
Hussain: tough doesn't even begin to describe him
Thorpe: by far our best player of that era
Ramprakash: underachieved, but hard to get out

And among the bowlers, Gough was continually inspirational, as Malcolm, Headley and Cork all were on their day. Fraser was a metronomic work horse; Tufnell was tremendous at times, and treated quite ridiculously by our joke selectors.

This joke of a team doesn't even compare.

We've got Root, Stokes and no-one else. And the only reason we're still so reliant on a miles past it Anderson and Broad is because nothing's coming through. Nothing at all!

It was already apparent we were a one-man team in 2019. We're still a one-man team in 2021. Pathetic.

Australia are a decent side. No more than that. We're making them look like world beaters.

Only the extraordinary Smith would even get into their batting lineup from back then; none of their bowlers would get anywhere near it.

England. What even are you? Send them all home!