Ashes 2025-26: ‘We laughed at Australia’s age, now they’re beating us’ – Vaughan’s scathing verdict on Bazball

Former England captain Michael Vaughan remarked that the English cricketing fraternity may have initially laughed at the age profile of Australia’s squad at the start of the 2025-26 series. However, the Australian team proved its critics wrong, validating its selection strategy by rewarding strong Grade cricket performances.

Vaughan noted that England needed to rethink their selection approach. Australia won both Ashes Tests in Perth and Brisbane, demonstrating that age is not a barrier to success, with several older players outperforming the visitors and leading their side to victory.

“Right now, England is the opposite of Australia. We had a laugh at the age profile of Australia’s team, and there are some cracks that England have failed to open up. But the Australian system has always been about earning the right,” Vaughan wrote for The Telegraph.

“To get in the state team, you need to perform in grade cricket on a Saturday. The whole system is connected in a way ours just is not, top to bottom. Sam Konstas was an outlier last year, almost an England-style selection, but they seem to have learnt from it,” he added.

Vaughan highlighted the example of 31-year-old Jake Weatherald, who showcased impressive temperament during the 2025-26 Ashes. Filling in for Usman Khawaja, Weatherald scored a valuable 72 in the first innings, and followed it with an unbeaten 17 in the second Test as Australia cruised to victory.

“Compare that to Jake Weatherald. At 31, he has been around the block and earned the right. He has been a hardened cricketer over 10 years. I do not think we would even consider looking at someone like him in English cricket. But he just looks ready,” Vaughan wrote.

“In English cricket, we gift our players a lot quickly. Until English cricket addresses all this, and remembers that Test cricket is a tough game that does not allow for shortcuts, the mediocrity will continue. You hear suggestions of weak men. That is what our system has created,” he added.

Vaughan also argued that England’s decision to forgo warm-up matches in favour of intensive training sessions was a significant mistake. He criticised the increasingly rigid ‘Bazball’ narrative and expressed concern that England’s younger players were not being exposed to enough real match situations. Vaughan noted that, in a way, he agreed with Brendon McCullum’s observation that the squad trained too hard instead of gaining practical experience through actual games.

“The team is told how good they are, and backed constantly, whether they play well or not. English cricket is reaping what it has sown. I do not understand why we don’t want them playing all the time, even if the opposition are not that good. Nets are fine but nothing beats going to bed at night with a score or a few wickets,” wrote Vaughan.

“It’s a great feeling. That is why I actually thought there was something in what Brendon McCullum said about England training too much before the Test. Training and not playing is just another example of a no-consequence environment. You never know if you are out or not in the nets, and you face another ball anyway,” he added.