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Former England captain Michael Vaughan believes that the current team is good enough to win the Ashes series despite having not recorded a Test victory in Australia since 2011. He feels that if Ben Stokes & Co. keep the basics right and start the assignment strong by winning the first Test, then they will have the momentum on their side as the series progresses.
“They have the tools to win in Australia. Good batting, proper pace and great leadership. In Stokes, they have the best player on either side, when he is fit and firing. If he is, their chances of winning rise again," Vaughan wrote in his column for The Telegraph.
“I think they have to win the first Test in Perth to win the series. They are good at bouncing back, but it would already be a long way back. How do they win? Well, first is to do the basics really well. The basics generally rule the roost in Australia, where you earn the right to be flamboyant. Catching is so important Down Under, with the cordon often deciding matches. Being blown away on day one would be a nightmare for England. They need to use their brains, which they should not confuse with playing negatively,” he added.
Vaughan wants AUS debutants to be under pressure
Vaughan also wants the England players to put pressure especially on Australia's debutants Jake Weatherald and Brendan Doggett. He pointed out how the two are expected to open the batting and bowling respectively, adding that the two may have impressed in first-class cricket, but the international stage is very different in comparison.
“I would get after the debutants if I were England. There’s one opening the batting, Jake Weatherald, and one likely to open the bowling, Brendan Doggett. Both are experienced first-class cricketers, but what you’ve done at state or county level counts for absolutely nothing until you’ve played international cricket. Lots of good players have failed to make that step up. You never know until you get there, and both men will have their moments of doubt on the day,” Vaughan further wrote.
Both teams hoping for a positive start
Meanwhile, the first Test of the upcoming Ashes series will commence from November 21 at the Optus stadium. Both the teams will be eager to start the series on a positive note, but it remains to be seen which one of the two will go on to do so.
Australia's playing XI for 1st Test: Usman Khawaja, Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (c), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Brendan Doggett, Scott Boland.
England's 12-member squad for 1st Test: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Brydon Carse, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Shoaib Bashir.
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