"This Series Could Be 5-0" - Michael Vaughan Says Australia Are Likely To Whitewash England In Ashes 2021

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has picked Australia as the overwhelming favourites for the upcoming Ashes series. He reckons the hosts are likely to whitewash Joe Root’s side in the 5-match series.

On Friday the ECB gave a “conditional approval” for the tour to go ahead, but “subject to several critical conditions being met” after CA gave them assurances of less strict covid protocols for English players and their families.

England have been thrashed 5-0 and 4-0 on their last couple of Ashes tours in Australia. Michael Vaughan feels this time it wouldn’t be any different.

“This series could be 5-0. You’ve got to be realistic. In the last four tours of Australia, England have lost 5-0 twice and 4-1 once. Obviously, they won in 2010-11, 3-1. I think this England Test match team, if they get on a roll, they keep playing well, they will be fine. But if they start badly, it’s going to be a long tour for them,” Michael Vaughan said while speaking to ABC.

He stated that the England team has had some lows and highs this year and predicting their performance is tough. England defeated Sri Lanka 2-0 and India in India in the first Test but then lost the next three.

At the home, they lost 1-0 to New Zealand and then 2-1 to India with the final Test cancelled.

“It’s very hard to predict with England because you are not quite sure. They went to India on the back of a series win in Sri Lanka, won that first Test because Joe Root put a huge score on the board, and then they lost the series convincingly. They do have it in them to beat good sides, but they also have it in them to lose against anyone,” he added.

England just don’t have the pace: Michael Vaughan

Further, Michael Vaughan highlighted that the England team will lack in their pace-bowling department without Jofra Archer. He believes the medium pacers will find it challenging to pick wickets on flatter surfaces in Brisbane and Perth. Also, with the retirement of Moeen Ali, they also don’t have a quality off-spinner.

“If it gets to a contest like it did at the Oval against India where it was almost overseas conditions, no swing, quite difficult to get any movement out of the surface, you need a bit of pace, you need a bit of mystery and you need an outstanding spinner. England don’t have that in their armoury.

“We know with England that they are a dangerous side. They can perform to a standard that will put any opposition under pressure. I look at places particularly like Brisbane and Perth and England just don’t have the pace,” Michael Vaughan concluded.

The first Ashes Test is slated for Brisbane from December 8. Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, and Perth are slotted to host the next four Tests, however, that is subjected to change.

Also Read: IPL 2021: Marcus Stoinis Likely To Be Fit For Qualifier Against CSK- Reports