{"id":618131,"date":"2025-12-07T15:05:29","date_gmt":"2025-12-07T15:05:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/618131\/"},"modified":"2025-12-07T15:05:29","modified_gmt":"2025-12-07T15:05:29","slug":"michael-vaughan-says-england-stars-place-is-under-huge-threat-after-defeat-to-australia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/618131\/","title":{"rendered":"Michael Vaughan says England star’s place is under ‘huge threat’ after defeat to Australia"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\"CRICKET-AUS-IND-VAUGHAN\"
\n\t\tBen Stokes could be an option for England at number three, says Michael Vaughan (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n

Former England captain Michael Vaughan<\/a> says Ollie Pope\u2019s position is \u2018under a huge amount of threat\u2019 and Ben Stokes should consider moving up to three in the batting order.<\/p>\n

England have a mountain to climb in the Ashes after Australia cruised to a comprehensive eight-wicket win in Brisbane\u2019s pink-ball Test<\/a> to go 2-0 up with three Tests remaining. <\/p>\n

An inspired Joe Root<\/a> century in England\u2019s first innings had given the tourists major hope of levelling the series after their loss in Perth, the Yorkshireman\u2019s first ever ton Down Under.<\/p>\n

But the response from Australia was emphatic, with Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschange, Steve Smith, Alex Carey and Mitchell Starc all passing 50 as the hosts posted an imposing total of 511.<\/p>\n

An unbroken, second-innings partnership of 65 between Stokes and Will Jacks helped England creep to a lead of 64, but it proved light work for Australia, who knocked off the required runs in the space of just ten overs on the fourth day.<\/p>\n

Smith, who has filled as captain for the injured Pat Cummins in the first two Tests, smashed Jofra Archer for six to steer Australia over the line and spark rapturous scenes at the Gabba.<\/p>\n

\u2018Australia<\/a> have just been too strong for England this week,\u2019 Vaughan told Cricbuzz<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Australia
\n\t\tWeatherald and Smith took Australia over the line in Brisbane (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Australia
\n\t\tStokes\u2019 men have a mountain to climb in their quest to bring home the urn (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n

\u2018England have had moments but when England have a really bad session it\u2019s an awful session.<\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s losing them Test matches, whether it\u2019s that last session on day two when they dropped so many balls, the last session on day one when they lost two many wickets, whether it was the last session last night when they lost too many wickets.<\/p>\n

\u2018They lost Will Jacks and it was obviously going to be quite hard for the tailenders.\u2019<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Australia
\n\t\tNeser impressed with the ball after replacing Lyon in the side (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n

Vaughan reserved special praise for Michael Neser, who picked up his maiden five-wicket haul in the match, and felt Stokes and Co were ultimately undone by \u2018English-style\u2019 bowling.<\/p>\n

\u2018I have to say that Australia bowled beautifully today because there wasn\u2019t a great deal there,\u2019 he added.<\/p>\n

\u2018Michael Neser is bowling 130km\/h and he\u2019s just hitting the top of off stump. <\/p>\n

\t\t\"England's
\n\t\tVaughan won the Ashes with England in 2005 (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n

\u2018A very English-style bowler, a Chris Woakes-style bowler, someone like a Sam Cook would bowl in that kind of fashion.<\/p>\n

\u2018Those three seamers are almost English-style seamers and they\u2019re doing a job against an England team<\/a>.\u2019<\/p>\n

Once the dust has settled on England\u2019s latest setback, there is likely to be an inquest and a few difficult conversations to determine exactly where it all went wrong at the Gabba.<\/p>\n

Stokes could not hide his emotions after the defeat and was honest with his assessment of England\u2019s limp showing, questioning the character and fight within his squad.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"CRICKET-AUS-ENG-ASHES\"
\n\t\tPope\u2019s position is under serious threat, says Vaughan (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n

According to Vaughan, there is definitely an issue with the \u2018mentality\u2019 of the touring side \u2013 and big changes may have to be made to the XI in Adelaide.<\/p>\n

\u2018They\u2019re going to have to make changes,\u2019 he explained.<\/p>\n

\u2018Ollie Pope\u2019s position at number three has to come under a huge amount of threat.<\/p>\n

\u2018There\u2019s a few ways you can go, you can throw Jacob Bethell to number three. He\u2019s got a few runs in the England Lions game against Australia A.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"England
\n\t\tThere are some calls for Bethell to be brought into the side (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n

\u2018But he\u2019s never got a first-class century and if you\u2019ve never done that, do you really think he\u2019s going to do it against this Australia side with Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon potentially back?<\/p>\n

\u2018Could Ben Stokes bat at number three? I\u2019ve said it for a while that he\u2019s such a leader, he\u2019s got such a good technique and he likes the fight.<\/p>\n

\u2018Could he go to number three? That means Will Jacks could bat at number six.<\/p>\n

\u2018You start looking at little scenarios of what could happen within the England side and then you look at the bowling attack, you look at Josh Tongue, Matthew Potts\u2026 that English-style bowler, do they bring one of them into the side?<\/p>\n

\u2018But the Adelaide Oval, it\u2019s probably not that style of week for an English quick. You probably want a bit more pace.<\/p>\n

\u2018They\u2019ve got so many questions to answer. The big thing for this England side is the mentality.\u2019<\/p>\n

For more stories like this,\u00a0check our sport page<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on
\nFacebook<\/a>,\u00a0<\/strong>Twitter<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Instagram<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Arrow
\nMORE: Brad Haddin slams England star over \u2018unacceptable\u2019 mistake in second Ashes Test<\/a><\/p>\n

Arrow
\nMORE: Why is Steve Smith wearing black tape under his eyes in the Ashes?<\/a><\/p>\n

Arrow
\nMORE: The Ashes 2025\/26 Dates, UK times, team news and how to watch Australia v England<\/a><\/p>\n


\n\t\t\tComment now<\/p>\n

\t\t\tComments
\n\t\t<\/a>
\n\t\t\t\tAdd Metro as a Preferred Source on Google<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tAdd as preferred source
\n\t\t\t<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tFootball Newsletter \u2013 In The Mixer<\/p>\n

Punchy analysis, transfer talk and more from Metro’s football experts, sent straight to your inbox every week.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t