‘That was bad’ – Potts on his Ashes horror show

Matthew Potts’ performance in the Ashes series against Australia was marked by a defining low in Sydney, where he struggled to contain the opposition. The England fast bowler, who has an average of 48 across his three Tests abroad, faced a brutal test when Travis Head dismantled his efforts, leading to a staggering 141 runs conceded in 25 overs without a wicket. Had he allowed two more runs, Potts would have recorded the poorest figures by an English seamer in Test history.

“There’s a moment to reflect on your performance and assess what went wrong,” Potts remarked nearly three months after the incident. “I just had three words: ‘That was bad’.”

Potts’ first three overs in the match cost England 25 runs, and by the end of day two, he had bowled 0-58 from seven overs. His troubles worsened on day three, as Head capitalized immediately, hitting boundaries off each of Potts’ initial three deliveries. The Durham bowler conceded 100 runs in 15.1 overs, and was not deployed in the second innings by captain Ben Stokes, who opted for a different strategy as Australia secured a five-wicket victory.

“Sometimes you have to accept the setbacks and move forward,” he said. “I received a few blows and didn’t counter effectively. That’s just how it is.”

Potts acknowledged the pressure of high-stakes cricket, where mistakes are glaring. “There was no room for error in that situation, and I wasn’t up to the standard required,” he admitted. His struggles in Sydney followed a series of injuries that sidelined Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, and Gus Atkinson, forcing him into the Test squad. Though he had participated in early practice matches, he had been out of action for six weeks before his call-up.

Despite his readiness, Potts conceded that his performance fell short. “I felt prepared for the game, but it’s possible things could have turned out differently,” he noted. “I didn’t execute as well as I should have, which is something I’m keen to address.” His coach at Durham, Ryan Campbell, suggested his focus had shifted toward wobble-seam deliveries at the expense of swing bowling. “I probably underutilized swing in the last couple of years, relying too much on the seam,” Potts agreed.

The data supports Campbell’s assessment. Potts’ average swing has decreased by 0.2 degrees, and his outswingers have nearly halved in frequency compared to his first Test summer. “I need to return to being a reliable workhorse with consistent skill,” he said. “I lost some of that sharpness in recent matches, but it’s a learning curve.”

With the upcoming County Championship fixture against Kent, Potts aims to regain his form. His Sydney misstep has raised questions about his place in England’s Test lineup, but he remains determined to prove his worth. “It can happen in cricket, and I’m ready to bounce back,” he concluded.