Ashes 2025-26: ‘This is judgement time’ – Michael Vaughan warns England leadership after Perth loss

England vs Australia 2023 (Source/Twitter & Getty Images)

Michael Vaughan has warned that the time for judgment has arrived for those in charge of England’s Ashes campaign. The eagerly anticipated tour got off to a disappointing start in Perth, where Ben Stokes’ side suffered their first two-day loss against Australia in 104 years.

The defeat has increased the pressure ahead of next week’s day-night Test in Brisbane. However, the team’s leadership, including Stokes, head coach Brendon McCullum, and managing director Rob Key, opted not to send senior players to Canberra for a pink-ball practice match over the weekend.

This decision has drawn disappointment from many quarters, not least Vaughan. Yet, the current regime has consistently prioritised its own instincts over traditional approaches. Vaughan, who famously regained the Ashes as England captain in 2005, now says those in the top roles are facing a critical moment of truth.

“They went 2-0 down in 2023 (later drawing 2-2) and we all gave them a little bit of rope because they were just at the start of the journey,” Vaughan told the Overlap’s Stick to Cricket podcast.

“Have you learned from ’23? From what I’ve seen this week the honest answer is no they haven’t, which disappoints me. When you’re in positions of power and leadership you can do exactly what you want but then you get judged on it. This is judgement time. At the minute they’ve had one opportunity here in Australia and it hasn’t worked,” he added.

England opener Zak Crawley is also under growing scrutiny as he heads to Queensland, coming off two ducks and a Test average that has fallen below 31. Crawley had long been tipped for success on this tour, making the start particularly disappointing.

However, Sir Alastair Cook, who amassed an extraordinary 766 runs at the top of the order during England’s triumphant 2010-11 Ashes tour, believes Crawley will be given the full series to prove himself before selectors consider making any changes.

“He’s been picked and backed for three years for this moment. England are happy with three innings (a series) out of him, and those three innings tend to be unbelievable. He’s now got to deliver three out of eight for it to work. The decision on Zak will be whether this works over next eight innings. Okay, he’s grabbed a pair, which is horrendous, but it happens. It doesn’t change anything about Zak Crawley. They just back him, they can’t change now and they won’t change until after Sydney (the final Ashes Test),” said Cook.

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