‘I actually want to see a bit of mongrel in the England side’ – Michael Vaughan expects a change of attitude from visitors ahead of third Ashes Test

England lost the second Ashes Test and are now moving towards the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. The English team took the game to the fifth day, but the batting simply didn’t click. Chris Woakes, with 44 runs off 97 deliveries, was the highest scorer for the team in the second innings.

England can’t commit more mistakes in the remaining three games, otherwise, the dream to earn the urn might stay as it is. Australia has looked pretty sharp in all the departments in the first two Tests. Even after the two key bowlers were out in the second Test, the team never allowed England to jump back in the game.

In The Follow On podcast, former English captain Michael Vaughan discussed a few things related to England’s performance and his expectations from the Joe Root-led side. He mentioned that he was not surprised to see England struggle because of the team’s form in 2021 and structural issues at the County level. He said that everything is too nice, and the England team needs to show some “mongrel” to unsettle the Australians.

“I see on the morning of the game they are all talking to Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon. I never had a conversation with Steve Waugh back in the day. I wouldn’t have dared go and speak to Glenn McGrath on the morning of the game or Shane Warne. You just didn’t,” Vaughan said.

“It’s all a bit friendly. I’d get nasty with them. They somehow need to find that on day one. Get into the scrap. Chirp, do whatever, just get into the scrap,” he added.

England are at that stage now where they have to change something: Michael Vaughan

England is expected to make a few changes to the playing 11 in the next Test. It might bring back Jack Leach and Mark Wood. Also, Jonny Bairstow might be able to play in the middle-order. However, Vaughan believes that a change in attitude against the opponent and among each other might help the team a lot.

“They are at that stage now where they have to change something. It might be that they all get nasty, get nasty with each other. They all fall out. Who cares, but then come out and show a bit of spirit. I actually want to see a bit of mongrel in the England side,” he said.

During the post-match conference, Root mentioned that the bowler didn’t bowl in the right areas. Vaughan mentioned that Root was right regarding the lengths, but his comments have come very late.

“It was a little bit of a press conference for me that needed to have happened probably two or three years ago because England has consistently bowled the wrong lengths for quite a while now. And when you’re 2-0 down in an Ashes series away from home with three to play, it’s almost a bit too late,” Vaughan mentioned.