Michael Vaughan has contradicted England’s current captain Ben Stokes, questioning whether his side’s ultra-attacking “Bazball” approach to Test cricket is the best way of regaining the Ashes.
While Stokes has publicly called for fast, flat pitches to continue his team’s impressive batting charge Vaughan, who broke a 16-year Ashes drought by leading England to their 2005 series victory, says bowlers moving the ball in helpful conditions is the best way to beat Australia.
England captain Ben Stokes (r) and Stuart Broad congratulate James Anderson after he had dismissed New Zealand batsman Kyle Jamieson at Lord’s. Credit: Getty
He claims it’s not possible to make fast wickets in England.
“You can rule that out,” Vaughan told this masthead.
And he doubts David Warner will survive at the top of the order after his disastrous 2019 Ashes, when he scored just 95 runs at 9.5, with Stuart Broad dismissing him seven times. But Vaughan still wants the dashing left-hander in the team because England “fear him.”
Vaughan’s radical solution as an opener is Mitchell Marsh, a right-hander who has the capacity to play the same attacking role as Warner if he gets set. This would break up the left-handed combination of Warner and Usman Khawaja at the top of the order.
Michael Vaughan believes David Warner should bat in the middle orderCredit: Getty
The 40-year-old Jimmy Anderson is still England’s best bowler, according to Vaughan, who believes combining with fellow veteran Stuart Broad and seamer Ollie Robinson creates their country’s best attack in traditionally helpful conditions.
“They are an incredible trio when the balls moving around,” Vaughan said. “If it gets flat Australia have got a chance.”
Vaughan described Anderson as “the key”.
“He’s bowling better than ever. It’s a pun that everyone uses, but he does seem to be getting better with age. He’s got it on a string and loves bowling to left-handers,” said Vaughan.
Mitchell Vaughan believes Australia should consider Mitchell Marsh as an opening batsmanCredit: Getty
“If I was Australia, I would really, really study the top of their order. Why would you want to throw out two left-handers to Broad and Anderson?
“If you’re doing your research and you’re looking at the way that those two bowl at left-handers, particularly in English conditions, why would you give those two great bowlers exactly what they want at the top of the order to get themselves up and running?
“I would honestly look at someone like Mitchell Marsh to open the batting because it gets him in the team. He can bowl you a few hours. He’s done all right against England.
“He’s a right-hander and he might go down the aggressive route. No bowler likes to go for runs. And everyone else who has been here opening the batting for Australia in the last few series has struggled, so why not try something a bit different?”
The one thing with Warner, I know England fear him. I do know that the captain worries that Warner could just have one of those series.
Michael Vaughan
Vaughan claimed that the World Test Championship final against India at The Oval leading into the Ashes will be a big game for Warner, who has a batting average of 58 in Australia and just 26 in England.
“The one thing with David Warner, I know England fear him,” Vaughan said. “I do know that the captain worries that Warner could come out of the traps and just have one of those series. And he’s never done it really in England.
“He doesn’t have much of a record here. I know Anderson and Broad don’t mind bowling to him. But the modern game seems to be available to out-of-the-box thinking more than ever. He doesn’t have to open the batting.
“He’s such a good player of spin. He’s such a good player when the ball that’s not moving. The ball won’t move after 30 odd overs in English conditions. Could they find a place for him at five or six?
“He looks great in Australia when he’s smashing the ball at a strike rate of 100 and his cricket is fantastic, but he struggles in England. I wouldn’t be against looking at him down in the middle of the order to get him in the team because I think [what] the others will want is his kind of tenacity and his mentality and his aggressive way.
“I think that it’s important to play this England side with a little bit of fire. Playing timidly won’t work. This England team are good. They’re played a brand that’s shocked every single team that they’ve played against so far.”
