It's Going To Be Tough For England To Beat India On These Shores: Michael Vaughan

Former England skipper Michael Vaughan opines it would be difficult for the Englishmen to overcome India in their upcoming Test series. India’s next assignment of their English sojourn is the five-match Test series against Joe Root’s men, starting on the 4th of August in Nottingham. Michael Vaughan believes that England’s fragile batting line-up makes it difficult for them to defeat India even at home.

India might have lost the ICC World Test Championship final to New Zealand; however, the Kiwis managed to inflict a series defeat on England before that. It proved to be the Englishmen’s first home Test series loss in seven years. But England will receive a boost in the form of having their top players against India; however, it would be a formidable challenge for the hosts.

Michael Vaughan lamented the lack of spinner in England’s line-up since the pitches were dry leading to the first Test at Lord’s in London. Furthermore, the 46-year old also underlined England has a weak batting line-up as showcased against New Zealand in both Tests.

“You, know this series against New Zealand, it’s been dry for the week leading into that first Test at Lords, played no spinner, exactly the same at Edgbaston, didn’t play a spinner, and the batting line-up is fragile, it’s simple as that,” Vaughan stated on the ‘Road to the Ashes’ podcast.

I just can’t see how they can compete: Michael Vaughan

Michael Vaughan further commented that even though England would welcome the likes of Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler, the batting department will struggle against India’s quality bowling. The 2005 Ashes-winning skipper opined that it would be difficult for England to beat India on these shores and Australia down under as well.

“Buttler, Stokes and Woakes have come back, yes, they’ll improve the team but unless that batting line-up changes and can learn and understand how to get big scores against good bowling, and not against second-string Test match standard bowling, I just can’t see how they can compete. It’s going to be tough for England to beat India on these shores. But then to go to Australia if they won’t get 450-500, I just can’t see them being competitive,” he added.

Also Read: ICC World Test Championship: Flop XI Of The Tournament