Michael Vaughan predicts it will be a tough challenge for Joe Root-led England to make a comeback in the ongoing Ashes 2021/22 series. He feels making changes to their playing eleven for the Boxing Day Test will have very little impact on the outcome of the contest.
The cricketer-turned-commentator believes England’s lack of bench strength is a major sign of worry. The ex-England skipper pointed out that the English side does not have a lot of players who have been knocking on the selectors’ doors with consistent performances.
Michael Vaughan Unimpressed As England Don’t Have Anyone Waiting In The Wings While Australia Better Side With Inclusion Of Alex Carey
He reckons Australia, on the other hand, has shown significant improvements in the past year. Wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey’s inclusion in place of tainted skipper Tim Paine who took an indefinite break has further strengthened their team, as per Michael Vaughan.
“Australia are better than they were a year ago. Alex Carey has made them a better side. For England, I think Mark Wood will play. You’ve got to play a spinner. There is talk of Zack Crawley and Jonny Bairstow coming in, but I don’t think whoever they bring in will do anything better. They don’t have anyone waiting in the wings,” Michael Vaughan said.
The 47-year-old opined that England’s white-ball success might have come at the expense of their Test team. He also noted how barring star all-rounder Ben Stokes, there’s no other player who seems ready to become their future captain in red-ball cricket.
“Generally, in a team, you see two or three players who are ready to become the next captain. But I don’t see anyone in this Test team who seems like he can be the next England captain apart from Ben Stokes. It’s taken a while for England to become a formidable white-ball force, but it has been at the expense of the Test team.”
England was completely outplayed in the first two Ashes 2021/22 Tests. England hadn’t won a Test match in Australia since January 2011.
Michael Vaughan Shocked Not To See Stuart Broad Playing 1st Brisbane Test
Michael Vaughan expressed his disappointment over the team not being able to even compete against the Aussies in the crucial series. He also seemed unimpressed with the team selection. The former England skipper suggested it was not the right move to bench senior pacer Stuart Broad for the opening Test.
He stated that the veteran bowler should have had the new ball in his hands on the green top wicket at the Gabba. James Anderson, England’s highest wicket-taker in Tests also was injured and so dropping Stuart Broad backfired in the opening Test.
He said: “To see Stuart Broad not play on a green top in Brisbane was remarkable. He should have been bowling the first ball of the game from around the wicket to David Warner. Everything that could have gone wrong has gone wrong for England. in this year’s Ashes. They have three more games to go, but I won’t give them any hope.”
England still has a chance of staging a miraculous turnaround by winning the remaining three Test matches. However, Michael Vaughan opined that things often go from bad to worse when a side has had such an underwhelming start in Australia.
The third Test match of the Ashes 2021-22 will be hosted by the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The encounter is slated to be played from December 26. Captain Pat Cummins missed the last Test match due to coming into close contact with an individual who tested positive for Covid-19, however, the Aussie skipper is set to return to action in this third Test, likely replacing Michael Neser.
In a bid to avoid conceding an unassailable series deficit in Melbourne, England will once again look to make changes, this time primarily to their batting as they take the underperforming Surrey duo of Rory Burns and Ollie Pope out of the firing line, with the two likely to be replaced by Zak Crawley and Jonny Bairstow. After being rested in Adelaide, fast bowler Mark Wood should return to the side after an impressive showing in the first Test.