Steve Smith, David Warner return no cure-all for Australia - Michael Vaughan

Former England skipper Michael Vaughan feels the return of banned cricketers, Steven Smith, and David Warner is not the answer to all their problems, and they need a severe overhaul to win the upcoming Ashes. Meanwhile, the duo are serving a ban due to their involvement in the ball tampering scandal in South Africa, last year.

Australia lost their first test series at home to India on Monday, a draw in Sydney giving India a 2-1 victory. However, what was more alarming was the hosts couldn’t score a single century over the four matches. While Australia have undoubtedly struggled in the pair’s absence, Vaughan said the team’s problems ran much more profound. Michael Vaughan believes that they need to make drastic changes to do well in Ashes series in England.

“I cannot see Australia beating England this summer unless they assess themselves brutally,” Vaughan wrote in his column for London’s Telegraph newspaper. “Batting techniques have to be better and they need to be more consistent with the ball.

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Every facet of their test team has to improve. They are kidding themselves if they think everything will be rosy when Smith and Warner come back,” he added.

Batsmen need to come good

In addition, Australia have managed to go past 300 runs on three occasions in 14 innings since the suspension of Smith and Warner. Michael Vaughan said that the team needs to score big runs to make the games more competitive.

“On flat, good batting pitches, Australia really struggled as it is on those tracks that weaknesses are highlighted,” Vaughan said of their performances during the India series.

“A batting unit’s defences are tested because it is necessary to bat for long periods. Australia are unable to play long innings. They look like a team who can score 250-300, and that is good enough on sporting pitches, but not when it is flat,” he concluded.

The 2019 edition of the Ashes series will run from August 1 to September 16.