Last Update on: June 25th, 2021 at 08:19 pm
Former England captain Michael Vaughan has called for changes in the Joe Root-led sides’ batting unit ahead of the upcoming Ashes series in Australia this winter.
England’s lackluster batting unit has become the focal point following their appalling performance in India and against New Zealand on home soil earlier this month.
The former England captain said that he would push Zak Crawley to the top of the order alongside Rory Burns followed by Malan, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Ollie Pope, and keeper Jos Buttler.
“The batting line-up is fragile, it is as simple as that,” he said. “[Jos] Buttler, [Ben] Stokes will come back in, [Chris] Woakes – yes, they will improve the team but unless that batting line-up changes and can learn and understand how to get big scores against good bowlers, I can’t see how they can compete. It’s going to be tough to beat India on these shores but Australia will get 450-500, I can’t see it unless they make one or two changes,” said Michael Vaughan.
“I’d bring in Dawid Malan back in at No. 3,” he said. “Apparently he is not popular but you know what, who gives a hoot if he scores runs, that’s what I like to see. He’s got a bit of experience, he played well against you guys in Australia last time,” he said.
“I’d put him at No. 3, I’d put [Zak] Crawley in to open. I know that’s a bit of fortune for Crawley because he hasn’t got as many runs but I think he can play. I’d leave [Rory] Burns, Crawley, Malan, Root, Stokes, Ollie Pope at six, Buttler at seven, Woakes at eight. Will that be a good enough eight to get big, big scores? I think it’d be a better chance than the seven I saw against New Zealand. They were very, very fragile,” he added.
Former Australian batsman Mark Waugh echoed Michael Vaughan’s call for the axing of Dom Sibley.
Waugh further said that Sibley does not belong to the Test level and he shouldn’t have been selected in the English team in the first place.
He also said that there is a dearth of batting talent in England as the likes of Rory Burns, Dom Sibley, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope and Dan Lawrence haven’t justified the faith that the selectors have shown in them.
Legendary spinner Shane Warne also called for the axing of Dom Sibley.
Warne further added that England’s opening pair of Dom Sibley and Rory Burns does not pose any threat to the opposition bowlers and England are missing a trick by playing them.
Interestingly, Shane Warne also called for the recall of Jonny Bairstow in the Test set-up for the Ashes.
