Australia have a ‘great chance of retaining the Ashes’: Michael Vaughan © Getty Images
Michael Vaughan, the former England captain, has voiced an interesting prediction amid proceedings at Edgbaston, which has England nearing a win to go 2-1 up in the five-Test series: that Australia have a good chance to still retain the Ashes. As fast bowler James Anderson has been ruled out of the fourth Test, to be played at Trent Bridge on August 6, Australia may capitalise on the weakened bowling attack, a probability Vaughan was pointing. But his views were still pessimistic considering England’s all-round performance in the ongoing Edgbaston Test. Vaughan’s views were made on a social platform named BreatheSport. READ: Ashes 2015: James Anderson ruled out of 3rd and 4th Test with side strain
“Confident now … 2-1 up for England … But I do think now Anderson is out it has given the Aussies a great chance of still retaining the Ashes,” he wrote. Anderson suffered a side strain on the second day at Edgbaston that forced him to go off the field. His six wickets in the first innings were crucial in helping his side gather a significant lead, to move towards a victory. Steven Finn, the right-arm seamer, stepped up to fill his void in the second innings to take six wickets and bowl Australia out for 265.
The Ashes battle so far has oscillated from one side to the other. Any optimism arriving from the commanding victory the home side conjured in the first Test in Cardiff, by 169 runs, quickly evaporated in the next, at Lord’s, as England were bowled out for 312 and 103, for a 405-run thrashing. Alastair Cook and Ben Stokes were the only England batsmen who provided any resistance in that game. READ: James Anderson shows pace and bounce is not the only way to take wickets in the Ashes 2015