“Look at Virat Kohli & Rohit Sharma in Brisbane” - Michael Vaughan slams England with Indian reference after loss in NZ vs ENG 2024 3rd Test
Former England captain Michael Vaughan cited Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's example, urging Ben Stokes and Co. to work on their game ahead of the Ashes Down Under next year. Vaughan's statement came after England lost the third Test to New Zealand by a record 423 runs in Hamilton.
Kohli and Rohit fiddled with balls outside off stump in the ongoing Brisbane Test, only to edge to the keeper. The two senior players departed without adding much to India's first-innings total.
Across the Tasman Sea, England suffered a heavy loss to the Black Caps. which largely came on the back of their poor first-innings batting. Writing in his column for The Telegraph, Vaughan warned the England batters not play deliveries away from the body in Australia.
"India skid the ball on and pitches do not bounce as much in England so I have less concern about that series. But a few England players must realise that in Australia with the bounce they cannot throw their hands at the ball with little foot movement. Look at Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in Brisbane. Both were dismissed playing with their hands away from their bodies. If you do that, it brings snicks into play and it creates a lot of danger," he wrote
In reply to New Zealand's stiff total of 347 in Hamilton in the first innings, the tourists managed only 143 in their first essay. The hosts batted another 100 overs as Kane Williamson struck a hundred to set England an improbable 658 to win. In reply, the Stokes' side could only score 234, losing by 423 runs.
However, England still won the series 2-1 after registering victories in the first two games.
"They are not going to be judged on winning away in New Zealand" - Michael Vaughan
Vaughan naturally wants England to grow into a great team. He has thus urged them not to take their foot off the pedal even after winning the series. He added:
"I would love England to become a great team but that only happens when sides win big series. They are not going to be judged on winning away in New Zealand. They will be judged on what happens next summer against India and in Australia. They won the first two Tests in New Zealand playing their expansive style at the right time. But great sports teams do not stop there. They finish the job off. They do not lose by 423 runs."
England do not play a Test until the 2025 home summer.