Michael Vaughan said that the winner of the opening Test at the Edgbaston in Birmingham will end up winning the Ashes. The veteran reckoned that the one who ends up losing the match, will be forced to rethink their strategies going into the last four matches of the series.
Vaughan said that England will face questions about their batting and their timing of declaration in their first innings if they lose the Edgbaston Test. Vaughan said that Pat Cummins will have to face questions about his tactics if Australia go on to lose the match in Birmingham.
“It all comes down to today – it will define this Ashes series. If England get the win, then Ben Stokes will continue to go ultra aggressive. If England lose they face so many questions about the declaration, their batting approach at times,” Vaughan was quoted as saying on BBC Test Match Special.
“If Australia lose, then Pat Cummins is under the spotlight and there are questions about spreading the field. There will be fingers pointed to whoever loses. I think whoever wins this Test will win the Ashes,” he added.
The opening Test is on a knife edge as the Aussies need 174 to take a 1-0 lead with Scott Boland and Usman Khawaja as their overnight batters. If the visitors chase the target down, it will be their fourth-highest successful run-chase in the history of the Ashes. England, on the other hand, require seven wickets to secure victory.
