'Takes desire, commitment and 100 per cent focus' - Geoffrey Boycott feels it will be 'bloody tough' for England to win the Ashes

Former England cricketer Geoffrey Boycott feels that it would take a lot for Joe Root and his men to deliver against Australia in the Ashes, which gets underway in November this year.

“It is bloody tough to win in Australia and it takes desire, commitment and 100 per cent focus,” Boycott wrote in his Guardian column.

He stated that the time has come for all of England players to shift their focus to facing the challenge Down Under than ‘shilly-shallying’ over the ‘will I, won’t I” question. Notably, England and Wales Cricket Board has been in constant negotiations with Cricket Australia over relaxing the stringent quarantine norms in the country.

“It is time for the England players to refocus from the “will I, won’t I” talk and shilly-shallying over the Ashes tour to now concentrate on beating Australia,” Boycott wrote.

“I understand why the players have negotiated long and hard over their quarantine and bubble conditions. I support them fully because they have been in bubbles for two summers, and it is like living in a luxury jail. It will be a comfort to have families and kids with them. But now it is sorted out they have to get their heads around a huge challenge,” he added.

Speaking about the bowling units of the two sides, he stated: “If players on both sides stay fit then you have to admit the Australian bowling unit is far superior to England’s in Australian conditions.”

Joe Root is in the form of his life: Geoffrey Boycott

Boycott went about to discuss the players and what they would need to ensure come the big Australian challenge. He said that Joe Root is England’s “main man” but would need support from others around him. He said that Australian batters not being in form is the “biggest positive” but also also advised England to be wary of Marnus Labuschagne.

“Joe Root is our main man. He is in the form of his life, he is at the peak age for a batsman and this is the tour to make it count. Sadly, there is not a very good batting lineup behind him.

“The biggest positive for our bowling unit is Australia are not great at batting either. They have three good players: Warner, Steve Smith and new boy Marnus Labuschagne. Don’t underestimate him. He is a very good player with a very good technique.”

“But the most important thing of all is do England’s players have the desire and commitment to succeed? If yes then they have a chance. If not, then Australia will win comfortably,” he concluded.