Former England skipper Michael Vaughan has mentioned that Ben Stokes’ team should be afraid of the outcomes of the Ashes if England do not improve midway through the gap between the Second and Third Ashes Tests. He also cautioned them on being whitewashed if they do not mend their ways.
England have travelled to Australia for a five-match Ashes series. The Former England captain, Michael Vaughan, had claimed that this was Australia’s weakest-looking squad and without their skipper Pat Cummins, England could have the upper hand in Perth and Brisbane.
But Australia defeated England in both games, and Mitchell Starc was named the player of the match on both occasions. The Ben Stokes-led side is already down 2-0, and Vaughan has cautioned them over a whitewash.
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Former England captain cautions England over deterioration in the Ashes
Former England skipper Michael Vaughan was worried about the state of the English cricket team, and he believes that if England cannot put their act together, then they might be whitewashed in the series by Australia.
“I hate to say it. If England are not careful, this could be 5-0. I have not seen enough from England to suggest that they can win a game yet. They are a good set of players, and it is possible. If they do not improve quickly, this can get a lot worse before it gets better,” Michael Vaughan said on the BBC.
Despite having batted well in the first innings of the pink-ball Test, the hosts were stunned in the second innings and took a massive lead with Mitchell Starc playing an extensive role. The England team faltered in the second innings and posted a target of 65 runs, which was chased with ease.
“England will have to make changes going into Adelaide,” Michael Vaughan opined
The former England captain criticised the English batting unit, as they have been a constant failure in the no. 3 batting position. He further called out that they need to think about Ollie Pope’s probable replacement.
“England will have to make changes going into Adelaide. They have to seriously consider Ollie Pope’s position. He has played plenty of games against Australia. There is a mental scar against Australia for Pope. Do you bring in Jacob Bethell?”
“Can Stokes bat at number three and Jacks at number six? It is a big risk bringing Bethell into this series when the team is 2-0 down, and he has not scored a first-class hundred, yet you expect him to perform against this Australia team with Cummins and Lyon back in the side,” Michael Vaughan added.
How many times has England finished 5-0 in the Ashes?
If England go down with a whitewash in the series, 5-0, then this would not be the first time that they have gone down with a clean sweep in the series. Only three times in the Ashes has a team been washed out.
Australia have whitewashed England thrice in 1920-21, 2006-07, and 2013-14, while Australia has never been blanked in an Ashes series. Australia are No.1 in the WTC points table as of now, and have won all 5 of their games.
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