Former England captain Michael Vaughan believes Ben Stokes’ aspect nonetheless have “a huge amount to play for” within the remaining Ashes Test, as they give the impression of being to disclaim Australia a primary away win in over twenty years.
A rain-ruined end to the fourth Test at Emirates Old Trafford noticed England’s probabilities of regaining the urn washed away on Sunday, however they’ve simply three days to lick their wounds earlier than embarking on the sequence finale 2-1 down on the Kia Oval.
The final Australian aspect to win a sequence on these shores did so in 2001, with Vaughan kicking off England’s period of dominance at residence when he led his crew to victory within the golden summer time of 2005.
The Baggy Greens have had 5 winless excursions in a row, additionally shedding in 2009, 2013 and 2015 earlier than taking a 2-2 draw 4 years in the past, and Vaughan needs to maintain the streak going.
“You wouldn’t want to be the first England team to lose here since 2001, so I do think there’s a huge amount to play for down at the Oval,” he instructed BBC Test Match Special.
“I know they’re 2-1 down but it just feels like England have been the better team. They’ve played some good stuff and dominated many parts of the Test matches.
“I’ll be interested to see how Australia play at the Oval and whether or not they try to be positive. If England win at the Oval, they deserve it because they have been the better side. If Australia play the way they have in this test then England will absolutely wipe them.
“They’ll go back to the first two Tests and look at mistakes they’ve made in the field and at that batting collapse in the first innings at Lord’s, but I do think they are a team that learn quickly now.”
Australia nice Glenn McGrath, who was a part of groups in 2001 and 2005, believes his nation’s passive efficiency in Manchester was a deliberate tactic to scrape the draw they wanted to safe the urn.
He additionally recommended England had trigger for remorse, suggesting they batted on too lengthy on Friday earlier than the climate turned and likewise handed up alternatives earlier within the sequence.
“To me, Australia played this game in survival mode, to protect the lead they’ve got,” he mentioned.
“Australia knew what they wanted to do and they may have looked a bit ugly and a bit negative doing it, but their goal was to retain the Ashes in this match and they’ve done it.
“Looking back at that declaration (decision), if they had finished at lunch on day three, given themselves 10 more overs when the ball was doing a bit more, they could easily have picked up six or seven wickets.
“The story could be different. England had the opportunity but for some reason decided to play on after lunch which, to a degree, sealed their fate. If they’d played truly ruthless cricket, they could be 3-0 up by now but they’re 2-1 down at the Ashes have gone.”