ENG vs NZ: England Are ‘To Be Feared’ As Michael Vaughan Compares Ben Stokes To Great Shane Warne

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has praised Brendon McCullum’s side following their Test victory over New Zealand, saying the national squad is once again “to be feared.” 

Only a fortnight has elapsed since England’s new head coach, McCullum, and captain, Ben Stokes, assumed command of the squad, but the team’s hopes look to have been revived.

This England Test Side Is To Be Feared: Michael Vaughan

On the fifth day, Jonny Bairstow led an all-action assault as England chased down 299 in only 50 overs, a five-wicket triumph in the second Test that gave supporters new hope. 

“This will send a message around the cricketing world that this England Test side is to be feared and they will go toe-to-toe with Australia next summer,” Vaughan wrote in his latest Telegraph column.  

“The timid England, scared of failure, has disappeared just two Test matches into the new regime. This team is very much in its infancy but after only eight days of Test cricket we know the Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes combination have ripped off the shackles.

“It is the same team, more or less, but they have been freed up and it has totally changed their psychology.”  

McCullum, who still holds the record for the quickest century in Test cricket, has made it clear that he wants England to be an attacking force once more. England needed to be “strong, competitive and playing a watchable style of cricket.” before to the first Lord’s Test. 

In that regard, they’ve delivered in the first few weeks of the new administration. Stokes, according to Vaughan, reminds him of the late Shane Warne in terms of his ability to motivate people around him. 

Kyle Jamieson Out With Lower Back Injury

Meanwhile, Kyle Jamieson has been ruled out of the series with a lower back injury. Blair Tickner, who was with the Test side during the early tour games in England, has been summoned into the team as Jamieson’s substitute and will be in the UK before the third Test in Leeds next week. 

Dane Cleaver, Tickner’s domestic teammate, has been called up for his first Test after replacing wicket-keeper Cam Fletcher, who has also been ruled out of the tour due to a grade-two right hamstring strain. Fletcher suffered the injury while fielding on the fourth day of the second Test and will be out for six to eight weeks.  

The third Test match between England and New Zealand will take place in Leeds on June 23. 

Also Read: IND vs SA: Solid Comeback By Team India, Defended The Total In Style: Former India Cricketer Irfan Pathan