England's Ashes Hopes Dwindle Amid Crushing Defeats

England faces a near-impossible task in the Ashes series after a crushing defeat by Australia, drawing criticism from former captains. England's inconsistent play and over-reliance on risky strategies have been highlighted as key issues. Middle-order batter Ollie Pope is under scrutiny for poor performance.

England's dreams of regaining the Ashes have been dealt another blow after a devastating eight-wicket loss to Australia on Sunday, pushing their chances from improbable to near-impossible.

The defeat marks the 15th loss out of 17 tests in Australia and puts them 2-0 down in the series, drawing criticism from former captains who argue Ben Stokes's side has wasted its best opportunity.

Michael Atherton's assessment portrays a dire picture, noting the improbable nature of a comeback. Criticism has extended to individual players like Ollie Pope, whose lackluster performance has put his place under scrutiny amid a struggling middle order.

(With inputs from agencies.)