Former England cricketer Geoffrey Boycott attributed England's Boxing Day Test win to superior execution of fundamental skills, particularly seam bowling, rather than Australia's batting being 'ordinary, awful stuff.' He criticized modern batting practices, suggesting a focus on flat pitches for limited-overs formats neglects the development of skills needed for seaming conditions. Boycott argued that reduced county and tour exposure to moving balls, coupled with the ECB's financial priorities favoring shorter formats, hinders batsmen's ability to adapt, citing Joe Root's struggles as an example.