Michael Vaughan blasts England’s Ashes preparation of playing golf and blames it for first Test loss

Former captain Michael Vaughan has hammered England’s team for a low-key preparation which he blames for the first Test loss in The Ashes.

The hosts attracted criticism from all quarters for their ‘Bazball’ decision to declare late on day one in Edgbaston despite having an established batsman at the crease in the form of Joe Root, who was unbeaten on 118.

It proved costly, with the Aussies holding on for a memorable two-wicket win in the dying stages of day five.

While that decision has been lashed, Vaughan said sharper fielding and better preparation would also have made a big difference.

Part of England’s warm-up for The Ashes involved playing a round of golf at the luxurious Stoke Park in Buckinghamshire, owned by Mumbai Indians billionaire Mukesh Ambani. 

Members of the side also took part in the Professional Cricketers’ Associaction golf day at The Grove in Hertfordshire.  

Michael Vaughan was not impressed that England’s cricket team chose golf over practice matches ahead of the Ashes

Vaughan believes a number of chances that went to ground could have changed the result of the first Ashes Test – and said England would have been sharper with better preparation

English captain Ben Stokes is a keen golfer (pictured playing at the BMW PGA Championship Pro-Am at Wentworth Golf Club)

There were a number of chances put down by the English fielders, most notably  when Ben Stokes dropped Nathan Lyon when he was on just two runs on the final day.

Lyon would dig in with skipper Pat Cummins to win the Test match.

Vaughan has laid the blame for those dropped chances squarely at the feet of the decision to not play in warm-up matches. 

‘The reason why they lost I don’t think was because of the declaration, but I do think it was because they were lacking sharpness in the field,’ Vaughan told News Corp.

‘They dropped too many chances. You look at the no balls. Australia bowled four no balls, England bowled 24.

‘England opted to practice for the Ashes by playing golf for a week. I’d have loved to have seen them play at least two days of cricket leading into a big Ashes series.

‘But they’ve opted for that relaxed approach. And it kind of showed in the field.’

A crucial chance goes begging as former English captain Joe Root puts down a catch that would have seen Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey headed for the sheds

Stokes’ dropped catch on day five was a heartbreaker for England, with Nathan Lyon going on to dig in and win the Test match along with skipper Pat Cummins

In contrast, the Australians took a number of sharp chances like this diving effort by Marnus Labuschagne to dismiss Ollie Robinson

The Australian team also scrapped the usual warm-up matches before the Ashes series, though they did play in the World Test Championship against India at Lord’s just days before the series began.

While that match was an ideal tune-up, former skipper Allan Border questioned the decision to abandon the usual warm-up matches against county sides. 

‘I don’t care how hard you work in the nets, nothing replaces game time,’ Border said.

‘I’m really surprised we’re just allowing the Ashes tour to be so condensed with no cricket between the games, but that’s the way it is.

‘I get it, we’ve got IPLs and T20s, I understand. The game’s moved on. But I think there’s an opportunity there for us to go to England early and play a couple of games … just to polish things off a bit.

‘It just doesn’t feel right not to play any cricket leading into an Ashes series. I just think that’s fraught with danger … there’s something gnawing at me saying it’s the wrong decision.’

Ironically, the Aussies also indulged in some golf before The Ashes, playing a round at Formby Golf Club in Liverpool.

The team shared video of their day out, with David Warner winning the longest drive competition on the first hole with a crushing 304-yard (278-metre) shot.

‘It’s a team sport,’ he joked.

‘So I dedicate that to my three other teammates for not hitting it down the middle and giving me no pressure so I could actually go for it.

‘Thanks, guys. I appreciate it.’