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Michael Vaughan exposes 'cult' Bazball myth, questions Ben Stokes' captaincy after Ashes loss

Akshita Patel

Bazball slammed by former cricketers [Source: @IMManu_18, @FoxCricket/X.com]Bazball slammed by former cricketers [Source: @IMManu_18, @FoxCricket/X.com]

England’s disastrous Ashes 2025-26 campaign has triggered brutal criticism. And former captain Michael Vaughan launched a stinging attack on the Bazball era and questioned Ben Stokes’ leadership. 

What was billed as England’s best chance in 15 years to win an Ashes series in Australia has turned into another painful lesson, with Vaughan branding the team’s mindset nonsense and likening it to a cult.

Despite Australia missing key players like Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, and Usman Khawaja at different stages, England have been completely outplayed. 

Michael Vaughan launches a full-blown attack on ‘Bazball’

With Australia set to seal a 4-1 series win, Michael Vaughan believes England have wasted a golden opportunity. He claimed England’s stubborn approach has cost them dearly.

“For Australia to have had so many great players missing – and it looks to me they are going to win the series 4-1 – tells you that English cricket have got a few home truths to answer about playing cricket in Australia. There’s a frustration. 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," Vaughan told Fox Sports.

The ex-cricketer pointed out that England haven’t won a five-Test series since 2017, despite all the hype around their aggressive style under Brendon McCullum. 

While Bazball has delivered entertaining cricket, Vaughan argued it has failed when it truly mattered.

"Their preparation was very poor. Their stubbornness in the way that they play has been very poor for a while now. They haven’t accepted that you need to go up and down the gears in Test match cricket. This England group have got a lot of thinking to do, a lot of accepting that things haven’t been righ. 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 and that has to change," he added.

Ben Stokes’ tactics under fire

While Ben Stokes has been praised in the past for his bold captaincy, Michael Vaughan believes his decision-making in this series has been remarkable in the wrong way.

One of the biggest criticisms was Stokes' refusal to take the second new ball in crucial moments. 

“The one thing I thought I’d never say, Ben Stokes’ tactics haven’t been quite right on this trip either. For him not to have taken at least one new ball throughout this tour is staggering. For him to have bowled the donkey overs – from 66 to 80 – with the old ball and not take that second new ball when England had to win that moment, again, was remarkable.

Vaughan also questioned England’s bowling combinations. Josh Tongue, one of their best performers, has not been used with the new ball, while Brydon Carse has been tried in unfamiliar roles. 

"Josh Tongue opens the bowling back home for Nottingham, (but) he hasn’t opened the bowling here. He’s been, with Ben, England’s best bowler. Brydon Carse doesn’t open the bowling back home, (but) he has opened the bowling here. You have to question the tactical side.”

Vaughan surprised with no usage of Bashir

The handling of young spinner Shoaib Bashir, who hasn’t played a single Test on the tour, also raised eyebrows.

“I look at the way he’s managed a young spinner like Shoaib Bashir – who hasn’t played on this trip – Ben Stokes has got the best out of him. For whatever reason on this tour, his tactical side of his job has not been with him."

Meanwhile, on day 4, England managed to grab a lead of 119 runs owing to Jacob Bethell’s century. At stumps, they had 302 runs on the board at the loss of 8 wickets.