Former England captain Michael Vaughan feels that Australia appeared fatigued during the recent home Test series against the West Indies and suggested that England could have a significant advantage in the upcoming Ashes if Australia fields a “Dad’s Army” team, implying an aging squad.
Vaughan emphasized that most players in the current Australian Test lineup are advancing in age and stressed the importance of injecting new talent to maintain their dominance in world cricket.
Australia managed to draw the recent two-Test series against the West Indies, a team that historically struggles when playing in Australia.
In only his second Test match, Shamar Joseph single-handedly propelled the West Indies to a narrow eight-run victory in Brisbane, delivering remarkable figures of 7/68 in the second innings.
“There was not much optimism in Australia that it would be a great Test summer because the two touring teams, Pakistan and West Indies, had poor recent records Down Under. But it was actually very competitive, as proved by the Windies pulling off that stunning win at the Gabba,” Vaughan wrote in a column for ‘The Telegraph’.
“I could see Australia being quite a jaded team by then (next Ashes). David Warner has become the first of that set of great players to retire, and the rest are in their thirties now, so the age profile is a concern for them.
“Time passes and minds start to turn to what comes next in life. This group of players has won everything going, so what motivates them? I know well from experience after 2005 how quickly things can unravel when a Dad’s Army team plays in the Ashes. You can look over the hill very quickly,” he added.
Vaughan remarked that the surprising defeat in Brisbane by the West Indies has boosted England’s confidence for the upcoming Ashes series next year.
“Australia remain a very good side. Pat Cummins is an outstanding leader, and when they need a big session to turn a game, they usually find it. That was why I was staggered when they lost in Brisbane, and that game was a sign for me that England have a great opportunity in the Ashes in 2025/26,” he wrote.
Vaughan believes that aside from bringing in new talent, Australia also need to rotate their bowling lineup.
“They need to start rotating their great bowling line-up to bring in some fresh faces and a fresh mentality to the group. They have no replacement for Nathan Lyon, who will be 38 by that series and is already suffering muscle injuries.
“There’s no one waiting in the wings to do anything like the job Lyon does in Australian conditions. Todd Murphy is a promising bowler who can do it in India when it’s ragging. In Australia, if Lyon got an injury, they would be worried.”
Warner’s retirement from Test cricket has deprived Australia of a crucial asset in their team, a “mongrel”, ahead of the 2025 Ashes in Australia.
Warner decided to retire from Test cricket at the age of 37 following the conclusion of the three-match series against Pakistan this summer.
“Another factor with Warner’s departure is that Australia just seem a really nice team to play against. There’s no mongrel, no Aussie larrikin in the team. There used to be about eight of them, then it went down to one in Warner. I’m not sure any of them are like that now,” Vaughan wrote.
Vaughan emphasized that most players in the current Australian Test lineup are advancing in age and stressed the importance of injecting new talent to maintain their dominance in world cricket.
Australia managed to draw the recent two-Test series against the West Indies, a team that historically struggles when playing in Australia.
In only his second Test match, Shamar Joseph single-handedly propelled the West Indies to a narrow eight-run victory in Brisbane, delivering remarkable figures of 7/68 in the second innings.
“There was not much optimism in Australia that it would be a great Test summer because the two touring teams, Pakistan and West Indies, had poor recent records Down Under. But it was actually very competitive, as proved by the Windies pulling off that stunning win at the Gabba,” Vaughan wrote in a column for ‘The Telegraph’.
“I could see Australia being quite a jaded team by then (next Ashes). David Warner has become the first of that set of great players to retire, and the rest are in their thirties now, so the age profile is a concern for them.
“Time passes and minds start to turn to what comes next in life. This group of players has won everything going, so what motivates them? I know well from experience after 2005 how quickly things can unravel when a Dad’s Army team plays in the Ashes. You can look over the hill very quickly,” he added.
Vaughan remarked that the surprising defeat in Brisbane by the West Indies has boosted England’s confidence for the upcoming Ashes series next year.
“Australia remain a very good side. Pat Cummins is an outstanding leader, and when they need a big session to turn a game, they usually find it. That was why I was staggered when they lost in Brisbane, and that game was a sign for me that England have a great opportunity in the Ashes in 2025/26,” he wrote.
Vaughan believes that aside from bringing in new talent, Australia also need to rotate their bowling lineup.
“They need to start rotating their great bowling line-up to bring in some fresh faces and a fresh mentality to the group. They have no replacement for Nathan Lyon, who will be 38 by that series and is already suffering muscle injuries.
“There’s no one waiting in the wings to do anything like the job Lyon does in Australian conditions. Todd Murphy is a promising bowler who can do it in India when it’s ragging. In Australia, if Lyon got an injury, they would be worried.”
Warner’s retirement from Test cricket has deprived Australia of a crucial asset in their team, a “mongrel”, ahead of the 2025 Ashes in Australia.
Warner decided to retire from Test cricket at the age of 37 following the conclusion of the three-match series against Pakistan this summer.
“Another factor with Warner’s departure is that Australia just seem a really nice team to play against. There’s no mongrel, no Aussie larrikin in the team. There used to be about eight of them, then it went down to one in Warner. I’m not sure any of them are like that now,” Vaughan wrote.
