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Former England captain Michael Vaughan expressed concerns for Ben Stokes-led side ahead of the pink-ball Test at The Gabba, Brisbane. Vaughan feels that Australia will get better after the Perth win as the Ashes 2025-26 progresses. If Australia don't include spinner Nathan Lyon warms the bench in Brisbane, Vaughan believes it will make Australia's batting lineup much longer.
"England had the best team they could’ve picked for the conditions in Perth, whereas it wasn’t Australia’s best team. My worry for England is that Australia will get better," Vaughan stated on Stick to Cricket show.
“Say Travis Head is the opening batter and Josh Inglis comes at five, (Cameron) Green at six, Alex Carey at seven… They may not play the spinner with the pink ball, so they may end up with (Beau) Webster at eight, (Pat) Cummins at nine if he comes back, (Mitchell) Starc at 10 and (Scott) Boland 11, (so) you are looking at Australia thinking, ‘How the f*** do you beat that?'" asked the former skipper.
Australia did not announce their playing eleven on December 3. Cummins had a good session in the nets and not ruled out of the second Test. He also hinted that Lyon is not guaranteed a place either, especially considering the amount of overs he bowled in the previous game. If Australia need a spinner to do the holding job which seems unlikely, Travis Head can do that as well.
Vaughan on England’s Perth XI not playing warm-up game
Vaughan criticised England’s call to not play the two-day pink-ball warm-up game after the collapses in Perth Test. Stokes sent benched players to play against Prime Minister’s XI. He used golf analogy to explain why it was not a good idea.
"It is like if Tiger Woods goes to the Masters and says he has prepared by going on the crazy golf and got a couple of shots through the windmill and ‘I’m ready’. It is similar," the 51-year-old said.
"Am I so old school to suggest that by playing a game of pink-ball cricket to prepare yourselves to play a pink-ball game is professionalism?" he further added.
Meanwhile, England have one change to their side after the two-day Perth drubbing. They have replaced an injured Mark Wood with Will Jacks. The all-rounder hasn’t played a Test in three years.
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