There’s a remark that I see once a while in reviews, something along the lines of: “The authors should have their work edited by a native English speaker.”
I think sometimes reviewers use the "should be reviewed by a native English speaker" trope as a shortcut for putting down something on a review when they haven't done their work. Or as a default on pretty much every review they write. I've gotten that response multiple times on my papers and I have about the whitest, English-sounding name ever and work out of a USA institution, and I assure you my English writing is fine- in fact I sometimes teach scientific writing.
I think sometimes reviewers use the "should be reviewed by a native English speaker" trope as a shortcut for putting down something on a review when they haven't done their work. Or as a default on pretty much every review they write. I've gotten that response multiple times on my papers and I have about the whitest, English-sounding name ever and work out of a USA institution, and I assure you my English writing is fine- in fact I sometimes teach scientific writing.