Vaughan Defiant: Sticking to England 3-1 Series Win Prediction Despite India's Dominance

Despite India's emphatic 336-run victory over England in the second Test at Edgbaston, leveling the five-match series at 1-1, former England captain Michael Vaughan is standing by his pre-series prediction of a 3-1 win for the home side.

Michael Vaughan maintains his series prediction.

"India have been too good this week .. Outstanding performance .. My prediction is still alive .. 3-1 England .." Vaughan posted on X, acknowledging India's strong showing but reaffirming his original forecast.

However, in his column for The Telegraph, Vaughan adopted a more critical tone towards England, suggesting they had regressed since their win at Headingley. "This week, they were back to their bad old ways," he stated. "Apart from four hours on the third day where Harry Brook and Jamie Smith batted beautifully, they have been totally dominated by India."

Vaughan highlighted that England had misinterpreted their opening victory in Leeds, where dropped catches by India shifted the momentum. "They turned up here and thought they should do everything the same way, and it has backfired," he cautioned, adding that relying on "fortune" is not a reliable strategy for winning major series.

He further emphasized, "You win games relying on fortune, but not big series like this one or the Ashes," urging England to "evolve" their approach rather than depend on the outcome of a single game.

Former bowler Stuart Broad, speaking on Sky Sports, also expressed concerns regarding England's bowling attack. “I'd be worried about this Indian bowling attack at Lord’s,” he commented, emphasizing the threat posed by Akash Deep and the anticipated return of Bumrah. “If it swings, you've got Bumrah who swings it so late and will be dangerous.”

With the third Test at Lord’s commencing on July 10, both experts have underscored the urgency for England to quickly reassess their strategies. Meanwhile, India appears poised to maintain the pressure.