Former England captain Michael Atherton has urged the Three Lions to maintain relentless pressure on Australia, asserting that the Baggy Greens are on the verge of “imploding” following their recent Test-series defeat in South Africa. The Australian side suffered a 2-1 loss that saw them displaced from the top of the ICC Test rankings, a result that has exacerbated internal tensions and exposed deep-seated fragility in their top order. With England set to tour Australia for three ODIs and five T20Is starting November 13, Atherton believes the hosts are vulnerable to further humiliation if they fail to address their immediate structural issues.
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The core of Australia’s crisis lies in the batting department, where Marnus Labuschagne has gone 49 innings without a Test century and faces certain axing ahead of the home series against New Zealand. The team’s collapse was starkly illustrated by being rolled for 99 and 111 in South Africa, a performance that has placed selectors in the firing line for their stubborn persistence with Labuschagne. Furthermore, the decision to recall Nic Maddinson, who had not played a first-class game since March 2025, proved disastrous as he managed just 56 runs in four knocks, including a 33-ball duck, before being jettisoned from the squad.
As England prepares to capitalize on this turmoil, the focus shifts to the upcoming limited-overs series, where the hosts must stabilize their lineup to avoid a complete collapse. The combination of a prolonged scoring drought for their key batter and the failure of emergency reinforcements has left the Australian team with little margin for error. Atherton’s analysis suggests that if England can apply consistent pressure in the T20 and ODI formats, they may force a significant shakeup in the Australian squad, potentially reshaping the team’s hierarchy before the New Zealand series begins.
Source: Sky Sports
