England have “no chance” of regaining the Ashes in Australia if their batting continues to be “fragile”, says former Captain Michael Vaughan.
Joe Root’s side suffered a series defeat by New Zealand after they were bundled out for 122 yesterday (13) morning at Edgbaston offering New Zealand a chance to win the match and the two-match series.
Set 38 runs to win, the Kiwis were home in just 10.5 overs.
England will play five Tests against India before their winter tour of Australia.
“They now have just five chances to sort the batting out before the Ashes,” Vaughan had remarked. “They can’t arrive in Australia with a batting line-up this fragile.
They’d have no chance.”
Scores:
England 303 and 122 (Mark Wood 29, Ollie Pope 23; Neil Wagner 3/18, Matt Henry 3/36); New Zealand 388 and 41/2 (Tom Latham 23 n.o.)