Former England captain Michael Vaughan believes that England’s prospects in the first Test of Ashes 2023 at Edgbaston will be determined by their batters’ approach against Australian spinner Nathan Lyon. Vaughan emphasizes the need for England to score more than 250 runs in their second innings.
Led by Ben Stokes, the England team dismissed Australia for 386 runs in the first innings, securing a slender lead of 7 runs. The English bowlers impressively claimed Australia’s last five wickets for just 48 runs during the first session of Day 3. Usman Khawaja, who scored 141 runs, added 15 runs to his overnight score before being dismissed.
In an interview with BBC Sports, Michael Vaughan expressed his admiration for England’s pacers and their effective use of short-ball tactics against the Australian tailenders.
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“I’d rather be in England’s position. This ‘Bazball’ approach against a world-class performer like Nathan Lyon has paid off. The conditions have also favored the seamers. The key factor will be how England handles Lyon. If they manage to score over 250 runs, it will be a challenging chase for Australia,” Vaughan commented.
He added, “Broad, Anderson, and Robinson have brought England back into the contest. Earlier this morning, Australia seemed poised for a 50-60 run lead.”
England faced early setbacks in their second innings, losing their openers for a low score. They reached 28 runs for the loss of two wickets before rain interrupted play. At the end of the day, Ollie Pope and Joe Root remained unbeaten at the crease, providing hope for the hosts.