Michael Vaughan, former captain of England’s cricket team, polemicizing on the state of English cricket. Regardless, he did have the courage to speak out in the aftermath of an incredibly difficult Ashes series. Aside from that expected loss, Vaughan is adamant that his side – last year’s runners-up – can’t afford to hastily overhaul their playing roster.
Vaughan, who made 82 appearances for the Three Lions between 1999 and 2008, opened up on his experiences. He clearly recalled his ignominious 2002-03 Ashes tour when his team had been in the deepest of abysses, 4-0 down. Under all the pressure, they found a way to win the last Test at Sydney and take the series by 2-1. This unique experience, as he argues, teaches the value of having a consistent core group of players, even during some down years.
“The left-hander will be 35 at the time of the next Ashes tour,” Vaughan remarked, referencing Ben Stokes. He added that it’s important for difference makers like Stokes to stay in the fold, as the team looks ahead. Vaughan said that English cricket tends to work on four-year cycles, particularly when it comes to home and away Ashes series.
Indicative of this is the fact that there are so many players in this England side who should still be arriving four years’ time. As he proclaimed after the Hungary victory, energy realistic groove thy mighty squad. But he admitted that some players need to be replaced, as they just aren’t playing well enough. “What I don’t want English cricket to do is think ‘all these players have failed, we’ll put them in the bin and start again’,” Vaughan cautioned.
As the Ashes series boils over, Vaughan dreads defeat in Adelaide. It would be a tremendous blow, consigning England to a 3-0 deficit for the fourth successive away series after only three matches. Even with this dire prediction, he is still looking at a whole new world of future possibilities with hope. “Melbourne and Sydney are still opportunities for England to learn for the next time they come or the next time they play Australia,” he said.
Vaughan believes that with the right coaching and management, coupled with adequate preparation, the current players can develop into a competitive force. “If they are coached and managed correctly, and given the right kind of preparation, they are going to be fine in four years,” he asserted.
He further added, “You want more players to be hardened by playing in these conditions.” Vaughan added that keeping highly experienced players in the game is crucial to next year’s prospects succeeding, especially on Australian soil. That’s the only way in my opinion that English cricket can be remotely competitive here in Australia, they need to persevere with some of the guys who have that know-how. “Bad experience is better than no experience,” he said to wrap up.
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