The Ashes: Only thing England has done right is turn up on time, says Michael Vaughan

Once again it was a poor batting performance from England as they were dismissed for a paltry 185 in the first innings of the Boxing Day Ashes Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday. Former England captain Michael Vaughan blasted the visitors for their poor performance so far. Australia are leading the best-of-five series 2-0 and the third Test in Melbourne is a do-or-die encounter for England. However, the visiting batting lineup was once again dismantled by the Australian bowling attack, led by their skipper Pat Cummins.

Australia on top after Day 1 at the MCG. https://t.co/PlsMM93vWz#Ashes | ?? #AUSvENG ??????? pic.twitter.com/4jLnb1i9Eu

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He told Fox Cricket: “So far the only thing they’ve done right on the trip is turn up on time. They’ve got pretty much everything wrong – selection, tactics have not quite been right.”

Australia won the first Test by 9 wickets and then went on to thrash England by 275 runs in the second. Australia’s bowlers and batters have been doing a brilliant job. Meanwhile England’s batters have failed miserably. Since the batters are not putting enough runs on the board the bowlers have been struggling. Vaughan was baffled by the fact that England dropped Stuart Broad for the most important game of the series.

He went on:  “Stuart Broad should be playing here [in Melbourne], he should’ve played in Brisbane. How Stuart Broad is not going to be bowling around the wicket to David Warner on a green top, I just can’t fathom that with the quality that he brings.”

Meanwhile Vaughan also criticised England for being too friendly with their Australian counterparts, adding: “ I think Joe will be saying to this side: “The England supporters and we as a group, we expect a lot more from ourselves. Let’s get a bit nasty.”

“There’s been too many mornings where I’ve turned on the television screen and I saw them all shaking hands and having conversation with Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon. 

Vaughan want’s to see a nastier England side

“Do that in the dressing rooms afterwards, not before the start of play. They’ve been too nice, let’s see if a nastier England side can produce some better results.”

On a decent batting wicket, Cummins bowled brilliantly to dismiss the top three England batters in the first innings before Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Cameroon Green and Scott Boland also joined the party put the home side in the drivers seat. Joe Root was the lone bright spot in the England batting line up as he once again scored a half-century.

Meanwhile Australia made a solid start in response as they ended the day on 61 for 1. Although James Anderson dismissed David Warner for just 35, Marcus Harris remained unbeaten on 20 along with night watchman Lyon (0).