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Former England captain Michael Vaughan believes that the current team has the potential to finally end their 14-year drought for a Test win in Australia. He predicted the upcoming five-match Ashes series to end at 2-2 and backed the Three Lions to win the series opener at the Optus stadium in Perth that will commence from November 21.
Vaughan pointed out how Australia will be without the services of both Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood in the series opener and thus, England may be in for a chance to start the crucial assignment on a strong note. He further backed England captain Ben Stokes to deliver and take the side to their first Test victory for a long time on Australian soil.
“As long as B Stokes stays fit, I think this series is going to be 2-2 … England to win in Perth with no Pat or Josh … As long as we have no more injuries before the first test, that’s my final prediction," Vaughan wrote in a post on X.
Australia missing key players in first Test
While Cummins will miss the first Test due to a back injury that he sustained months back, Hazlewood was recently ruled out of the first Test due to a hamstring strain that he picked up during a Sheffield Shield game. Steve Smith will be the one leading the team in Cummins' absence while the bowling attack will be led by the pace duo of Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland with Cameron Green and Beau Webster being the other seam options present in the squad.
Squads for both teams
Australia's squad for The Ashes: Steve Smith (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster.
England's squad for The Ashes: Ben Stokes (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, Mark Wood.
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