The Ashes: Former England captain Michael Vaughan hits out at ‘cult’ in current side and calls for changes

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has decried the “cult” mentality of their current side, declaring big changes would need to be made after yet another disappointing Ashes tour.

Scrutiny on captain Ben Stokes, coach Brendon McCullum and managing director of cricket Rob Key has ratcheted up as the tourists look to careen towards a defeat at the SCG, which would worsen the series scoreline to 4-1.

England Cricket Board chief executive Richard Gould has arrived in Sydney, with The Telegraph reporting a formal review into the tour was already underway as the final game of the series plays out.

In his most stinging criticism so far this summer, Vaughan said England’s Bazball approach had led to some “exciting times” but had been proven inadequate for when the stakes were at their highest.

“We know at the end of Ashes tours, particularly when you’ve had two goes at trying to win the Ashes, generally, personnel does change,” Vaughan told Fox Cricket.

“If this management carries on, they clearly have to carry on and change. They have to change the culture around the group — they seem to have created a cult around the way this team play and talk. A lot of it is nonsense. That has to change.

“They haven’t won a big, big series, home and away. This team has won in Pakistan, they’ve won in New Zealand, but you don’t get remembered for winning in those countries.”

Vaughan said England’s inability to capitalise on injury issues which have beset Australia, including having captain Pat Cummins available for only one game, being without Josh Hazlewood for the entirety of the series, was hugely disappointing.

“There’s a frustration with not just ex-England players, but also the ex-Aussie players. We generally all felt this England side, with the talent that they have, led by Ben and Baz, had a great opportunity here in Australia,” he said.

“This was a chance for England, and they haven’t taken it.

“The preparation has been very poor, their stubbornness in the way they play has been very poor, they haven’t accepted you need to go up and down the gears in Test match cricket, and obviously their bowling has been found wanting, and the one thing I never thought I’d say, Ben Stokes’ tactics haven’t been quite right on this trip either.”