Following Australia sealing a remarkable two-wicket victory over England in a dramatic five-day battle in the opening Ashes Test in Birmingham, former England skipper Michael Vaughan advised Ben Stokes that they just should not give Australia so many opportunities.
Michael Vaughan said:
“What England must learn is that when you are nailing the opposition, make sure you finish the deal. If you were being critical, there were too many times in this Test match when England seemed comfortably on top and then just opened up a door for Australia. You have got to have it in you to change it up. So England needs to adapt over the course of a five-day game” Vaughan said.
“That is a warning sign for England. I would not change the team. It is just about being smarter and a little bit sharper in the field. They just cannot give Australia so many opportunities. There are no sporting teams in my recollection that play only one way and are ultimately successful in the highest competitions,” he Stated
“England will say that nothing changes, and that is a good message to stick to outwardly. But I think Stokes will want the team to try to just be a little bit smarter, keeping the core of what has worked so well in the past year, and just being shrewder at assessing moments,” he added.