Boycott urges England to 'use their brains' in quest to level Ashes

LONDON, Dec 01 (AFP): Geoffrey Boycott has urged England to "use their brains" as Ben Stokes's men go in search of an Ashes series-levelling win in this week's second Test in Brisbane.
England fell 1-0 down in the five-match series following a humiliating eight- wicket loss to Australia inside two days in last month's first Test in Perth.
Batting collapses cost England dear as the tourists lost five wickets for 12 runs in their first innings and four for 11 in their second.
Former England opener Boycott insisted Stokes's men could win at
Brisbane's Gabba ground with a more measured approach.
"But it doesn't help our chances of success if Ben Stokes keeps encouraging our batsmen to attack, attack with one finger hovering over the self-destruct button," Boycott wrote in his Daily Telegraph column.
"Nobody is asking the players to stop being positive because they
have given us some marvellous, thrilling and entertaining cricket. All we ask is for them to use their brains and
realise there are times when they should throttle back and be aware
of situations and bat accordingly."
Boycott, 85, an Ashes winner in both England and Australia, also addressed Stokes's apology for a "slip of the tongue" after the all-rounder responded to criticism from former players of the team's limited pre-series preparations by referring to "has-beens".