Test Match Special The Ashes: Rob Key ’Sorry’ for England performing at 20%
Dec 23, 2025
Rob Key, Managing Director of England men's cricket, dives into the fallout from the Ashes defeat, admitting the team's performance has been at just 20%. He discusses the implications of past selections and the decision to focus on white-ball cricket in New Zealand. Joined by experts George Dobell and Stephan Shemilt, the trio analyzes England's preparation, on-field errors, and Australia’s bowling strength. Key's candid reflections on leadership and culture spark debate about the future of the team and their approach to upcoming challenges.
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England At 20% Of Potential
- Rob Key says England have a very good set of players but have performed at about 20% of their capacity in Australia.
- He argues preparation and earlier decisions have left the team unable to show their true potential.
Control What You Can In Preparation
- Do control the preparation environment you can manage rather than changing successful routines for uncertain gains.
- Rob Key defends keeping preparation methods that worked previously but admits they still needed to be better.
Decision Making Under Pressure
- Rob Key highlights poor on-field decision-making as a root cause, calling some choices "stupid" under pressure.
- He stresses equipping players to make better decisions when the heat is on.