Former England captain Michael Vaughan feels that the current players need to accept the criticism around their preparations for the crucial Ashes series against Australia. This stament comes after Ben Stokes had fired back at Ian Botham for questioning the team's lack of preparation for such an important assignment. Notably, the Three Lions haven't participated in any Test match since the Andersdon-Tendulkar Trophy concluded in August and only played a single warm-up game for The Ashes against the England Lions.
Vaughan believes that the former players are just expressing their views and there is nothing wrong in that. He further stated that they also want the team to win the series and are just concerned about them.
“England have to accept that there will be scrutiny. Just because the “has-beens” have a different view does not mean these are not valid comments. England should respect those views. They are coming from legends of the game who cannot play any more because they are too old, but that does not mean they do not desperately want England to win! All the former players and media I have spoken to want England to win this series. They are saying these things because they are concerned, and see the risk,” Vaughan wrote in his Telegraph column.
Vaughan in favour of England's strategy
However, Vaughan supports England's preparation strategy of playing just one warm-up match for The Ashes in order to keep the players fresh and maintain the standard of cricket against a quality opposition like Australia.
“I admire England’s approach. I have no qualms when leaders have clear direction. The theory behind playing just one warm-up is to keep the players fresh ahead of such a gruelling series, and also control the standard of cricket in an era where the hosts have not always provided quality opposition. This sort of method has seen them get off to good starts in every away series under Stokes,” he further wrote.
Ashes set to begin soon
Meanwhile, the first Test of the Ashes is set to commence from November 21 at the Optus stadium in Perth. While Australia will be looking to continue their dominance over their arch-rivals on home soil, England will be hoping to finally end a 14-year drought for a Test win Down Under.