#23: From tabloids to Bazball - England sport’s never-ending media battle

Send us Fan MailEngland’s Ashes tour of Australia didn’t just take place on the pitch - it played out in headlines, columns, and outrage too. From stories about drinking culture to fierce criticism of Bazball tactics, the coverage often felt less like analysis and more like a prosecution - in the UK and Australia.In this episode of Stop The Press!, Rob, Bill, and Nick ask a blunt question: have the media and press overstepped the mark with England’s sporting teams - and does it genuinely affect their chances of success?They explore how the scrutiny around the cricket team echoes the relentless criticism aimed at the England football team in the 90s and 00s - where every misstep became a national crisis, and the pressure often seemed to grow louder than the game itself.Is tough journalism part of holding teams accountable… or have we created a culture where England can’t build momentum without being torn down first?