Whingeing Piers Morgan branded as a hypocritical flog by Merv Hughes after claiming there has never been ‘a less-deserved retention of the Ashes’ in ‘irrational rant’  following draw at Old Trafford

Cricket icon Merv Hughes has labelled Piers Morgan a hypocritical ‘flog’ over the outspoken Englishman’s ‘irrational rant’ after Australia retained the Ashes thanks to rain. 

After the fourth Test at Old Trafford was washed out after two days of heavy rain, Australia retained the famous urn, due to the fact they won the 2021-22 series Down Under 4-0. 

It has been one of the most dramatic series in recent memory; from the controversial stumping of Jonny Bairstow to Pat Cummins’ batting heroics to win the first Test and the ‘Bazball’ revolution.

And throughout it all, Morgan has been one of the loudest voices, labelling Aussie players cheats and blowing up at their behaviour on and off the field.

It’s provoked some fierce criticism from Australia and cricket figures, with Hughes previously labelling him a ‘moron’ and a ‘flog’ for his outspoken views on the perfectly-legal Bairstow dismissal. 

Piers Morgan has slammed for his reaction to Australia retaining the Ashes, labelled a hypocrite for his ‘irrational rant’

Pat Cummins and the Aussies have retained the Ashes after winning the first two Tests and seeing the fourth drawn

Merv Hughes (centre) ringing the bell at Lords prior to the second Test. He has taken aim at Morgan, labelling him a hypocritical flog

As expected, that escalated ten-fold when it was confirmed Australia would be retaining the Ashes, with Old Trafford resembling a swimming pool more than a cricket field. 

‘For f**k sake. Has there ever been a less-deserved retention of the Ashes? From the Bairstow debacle to this rain-soaked fiasco, it’s an absolute farce that smirking Australia have ended up with the urn still in their hands. England comfortably the better side as this Test showed. Gutting,’ Morgan wrote on social media. 

He then took aim at betting company Sportsbet’s post that called the pitch covers a tissue for him, calling it ‘graceless’, before saying England were ‘robbed’.

‘Never been prouder of England cricket than under this guy. What a captain, what a style of cricket he’s cultivated. Thank you Ben Stokes, we may have been robbed of the Ashes but the entertainment you’ve given us is incredible,’ said Morgan.

Morgan finally admitted defeat, conceding he would be ‘flog-gloated to a miserable Ashes-devoid death’ by Aussies – and boy, didn’t Hughes take aim.

The cult hero, who played 53 Tests for Australia, reminded Morgan that exactly 10 years ago he had celebrated England retaining the Ashes the exact same way: rain.

‘Short memory flog!’ Hughes tweeted, sharing a screenshot of Morgan’s post in 2013 that celebrated the rain that ensured England would retain the urn after a closely-fought series. 

The Aussie cult hero, Hughes, once again labelled Morgan a flog, calling out his hypocrisy

Many pointed out the hypocrisy of Morgan, but also English star Stuart Broad, who had earlier told Daily Mail it would be ‘unjust’ if Australia retained the Ashes due to rain.

In 2013, when Morgan had declared his glee at rain securing the Ashes for England, Broad, who called the 2021-22 series in Australia the Poms lost 4-0 ‘void’ because of Covid, also wrote of his happiness: ‘We have retained the Ashes and it feels magnificent!’ 

Hughes wasn’t alone in condemning Morgan’s reaction, with thousands of pundits, fans and sporting figures also slamming the controversial Englishman.

AFL great Graham Cornes told Morgan to ‘suck it up’ after his ‘irrational rant’.

There was a time when I sympathised with Piers Morgan facing Brett Lee, who overstepped the mark bowling bouncers at him in the nets. But this post? Just another irrational rant. In sport you get what you deserve. Suck it up,’ the Crows legend wrote on social media.

Top comedian Andy Lee also got in on the act, lashing the controversial star:’I don’t think you (Morgan) have the ability to feel embarrassment given the history of things you’ve said.’

Pat Cummins (left) in the rain at Old Trafford after Australia retained the Ashes following the fourth Test match

Morgan still wasn’t done. 

Cummins admitted Australia won’t be celebrating retaining the Ashes after they were comprehensively outplayed in the first three days, before heavy rain ensured almost no cricket could be played in the final two days. 

‘It’s a bit of a strange one,’ he said after the match.

‘As a group [we’re] proud that we’ve retained the Ashes but it’s off the back of not our greatest week. It feels like it’s good to retain the Ashes, but we know we’ve got a fair bit of work to do for next week.

‘I don’t think there will be huge celebrations. Maybe a bit of a pat on the back for retaining the [Ashes]. There’s been a lot of work gone into putting us into a position where a draw does make us retain the Ashes. But there’s a Test match starting in three days so that’s going to be our full focus.’

And Morgan did not enjoy hearing the Aussie skipper’s comments. 

‘No s**t, Sherlock. I’d be too embarrassed to even speak to the media if I retained the Ashes in such a dismal way,’ he ranted on Twitter. 

Fans and cricket figures were quick to condemn his hypocrisy, again, with one even suggesting the fifth Test would be washed out thanks to ‘salty’ English tears. 

One thing’s for sure, even when the drama has died down, eventually, the Wikipedia and Cricinfo pages will read that Australia retained the urn in England in 2023, no matter what Morgan says.