Geoff Boycott claims English cricket is at a low point and its administration a "shambles".
Boycott, renowned as one of Test cricket's most stoic and successful openers, does not mind playing plenty of shots as a pundit - and his Daily Telegraph column on Tuesday was true to type.
He went on the attack against England and Wales Cricket Board policy, and a team which will begin this Ashes summer - initially against New Zealand at Lord's on Thursday - with much to prove after a disappointing draw in the West Indies last month.
Captain Alastair Cook made significant mistakes in the Caribbean, he believes, but the "embarrassing" lower-order batting of Stuart Broad appears to worry Boycott even more.
Broad has rarely convinced since having his nose broken by a bouncer which hurt him through his helmet grille in last summer's Old Trafford Test against India.
Boycott is encouraged that he is returning to form with the ball but has little or no faith in one-time Lord's centurion Broad making many runs.
Of Broad's bowling, he said: "He will get better. No doubt about that. But my biggest concern is his batting.
"It is embarrassing to watch him backing away, because there is fear in his head, and England are losing out on some late-order runs from a bowler with huge batting talent.
"If he needs help mentally then get him to see someone, because if this goes on much longer he will become a laughing stock."
England have a developing new management regime under new director of cricket Andrew Strauss.
Boycott, however, is far from convinced after the circumstances surrounding the recent sacking of coach Peter Moores and Strauss' decision to continue Kevin Pietersen's international exile.
"The last six months have been traumatic for England," he said.
"Our cricket has been poor and the administration of our game a shambles.
"Going into the Tests in the Caribbean with four seamers on sub-continental style slow, dry, turning pitches was unbelievably stupid.
"We then had the Peter Moores sacking becoming public before the guy himself even knew about it, followed by a pig's ear being made of the latest Kevin Pietersen saga.
"Our cricket is at a low point, and the people who run it have embarrassed and ridiculed us all over the world."
Source: PA
