Former England captain Michael Vaughan raises Ben Stokes concerns

Michael Vaughan fears Ben Stokes is undercooked heading into a seismic six months that could define his legacy as England captain.

Vaughan says it is vital that Stokes is able to operate as an all-rounder in Australia next winter if England are to win a first away Ashes in 15 years, but is ‘staggered’ that he heads into the five-Test series versus India that precedes it with such minimal preparation.

The 34-year-old has played just one competitive match – scoring nine runs and taking three wickets in last month’s innings win over Zimbabwe – since last December when a second hamstring tear of 2024 required surgery.

‘I’ve been staggered by the lack of time in the middle that Ben’s had as a batter. He didn’t have a great year last year when he got his injuries,’ said Vaughan, speaking at the launch of The Overlap and Betfair’s Stick to Cricket show.

‘A Scottie Scheffler or a footballer going into a major event would be playing. He’s had no game time. Why wouldn’t you want to play for England Lions just for a knock, not to bowl? He was bowling against Zimbabwe, and clearly he’s fine, but why wouldn’t you just want a bit of time in the middle? Call me old school but I think it’s quite nice to go out and hit a few balls.’

Stressing the importance of Stokes, Vaughan continued: ‘England can only win in Australia with him, and that’s him being the all-rounder. If he goes to Australia just as the batter, that completely breaks the balance of the team and as much as he’s a genius captain, the team are 30-40 per cent better when he bowls. To win in Australia, he has to be bowling and batting well.’

England declared their hand for Friday’s first Test at Headingley by following their now customary practice of naming their XI 48 hours out: vice-captain Ollie Pope retains his spot at No 3 following 171 against the Zimbabweans, leaving rising star Jacob Bethell on the sidelines.

Chris Woakes and Brydon Carse are fit again – the latter makes his first Test appearance on home soil – for an England side Vaughan is urging to adopt a ruthless streak or risk becoming cricket’s version of Nineties Newcastle United.

‘Now it’s about winning. Look at 2019 when we won the World Cup. Did England play the cricket that they’d been playing previously to win that final? Did they heck. They had to dig deep and play the old school horrible way, but they won,’ said Vaughan.

‘They are remembered as winners. I always revert back to the Newcastle football side of the 1990s – the Kevin Keegan era. Bloody great, we talk about them, but they didn’t win. Make sure you’re not that. Make sure that you’re not the most entertaining England that’s ever been, but not won an Ashes. Don’t leave it until 2027.

‘I just want to see that ruthless approach this summer and if you get on a winning run, win every game.

‘I look at all high-level sports teams and I don’t see a relaxed environment. I see a high intensity, high performance environment, and that’s sometimes tough, hard work. It’s not always smiles and patting on the back.

‘They’re trying to do something different but I’ve not seen a sporting team win in that fashion. I go back to the 2003 Rugby World Cup winners, and Clive Woodward was completely on the one percenters. I watch football all the time, and I look at Pep Guardiola, Arne Slot teams.

‘This cricket set-up has been quite relaxed, enjoyable and fun, but don’t tell me the England side from 2010-2004, the number one team in the world, didn’t enjoy it.

‘And they enjoyed it because they were winning. And that is the most important aspect about any aspect of sport. You enjoy it a lot more when you’re winning and lifting trophies.’

Betfair are set for a big summer and winter of cricket, launching a new show with The Overlap: Stick to Cricket. Don’t miss the first episode next week, where the team will be reviewing the opening Test of the series between England and India.