Michael Vaughan sends England Ashes warning and reveals how they can win Down Under - as he claims not even the Australian public LIKE Pat Cummins' side

Michael Vaughan believes Ben Stokes’ side must rein in their attacking instincts if they are to stand any chance of becoming the first England team to win the Ashes Down Under since 2011.

Brendon McCullum and Stokes have captivated fans with their Bazball approach since joining forces in the summer of 2022, with England scoring at a significantly quicker run-rate than ever before during their tenure. Although that attitude has brought 25 wins in 41 Test matches and transformed their fortunes, England have also been prone to batting struggles and dramatic collapses in difficult conditions.

That aggressive mentality has subsequently had its critics, and after England were bowled out for low scores in successive ODIs against New Zealand over the past week, Harry Brook's verdict was that they instead needed 'to go harder'.

And Vaughan, while a fan of the approach, believes it could be their downfall in Australia.

'The one thing they must be wary of is you don't win in Australia by playing one way,' he said at an event hosted by leading ticket marketplace viagogo. 

'I'm bored of this message with the England side saying "it's the way that they play, they want to go even harder".

'The ball will move around in Australia. It's a different Kookaburra ball and pitches now - and there's more lateral movement than I've ever seen.

'The first 25 overs of a Test it does so much that if you go throwing your hands at the ball, England have a habit of losing five, six, seven wickets quickly.

'If you lose those wickets quickly in an Ashes series in the first innings, you don't win a Test match. My fear is that England play such an expansive game they might get blown away.

'It's not being negative, it's being sensible and using your brain to realise in the first 20-odd overs, Australia won't get it wrong.'

Vaughan went on to praise England's record under Bazball, but felt that for all they have done, it's now time to win.

'If they have to step back from their incredible, entertaining way of playing to win the Ashes, just do it,' he added. 'I want to see Ben Stokes in Sydney on the podium with the urn in his hand.

'There's no excuses now. They've seen everything and everything's been thrown at them.

'They know what the Aussies will do. They'll spread the field a bit. Just milk it, take the runs. If they can do that, they've got a great chance.'

In the continued Ashes phoney war, Vaughan also aimed a dig at Australia, claiming that Pat Cummins' team aren't very popular at home.

'I think the Aussie public really admire England's style of play. They want to see players having a go, they like to see a bit of pace and cricketers enjoying themselves.

'I'm not too sure the Aussie public love the Aussie team. They don't seem to have that kind of connection. You go back many years when they were right behind them. This team has had so much success but there seems to be a connection that's not quite together with fans.

'So if England can get that first win in Perth, you can create a few divides within the Australian community.'