Ashes will be tough with this fragile England batting: Michael Vaughan

LONDON: Former England skipper Michael Vaughan came down heavily on the Joe Root-captained home team after they lost to New Zealand by eight wickets in the second Test on Sunday, saying the batting was "fragile".

New Zealand won the two-Test series 1-0 — their first series triumph in England in 22 years. The win also pushed New Zealand back to the number one spot in Test rankings and gave them a boost ahead of the World Test Championship final against India from June 18.

The first Test between England and New Zealand had ended in a draw.

Vaughan, who has played 86 Tests for England, said if the team continues to underperform, it will have no chance in the Ashes later this year in Australia.

"They now have just five chances to sort the batting out before the Ashes. They can't arrive in Australia with a batting line-up this fragile. They'd have no chance. This batting line-up is fragile and we have to now start looking at players and wondering if they are good enough because they keep getting out cheaply," Vaughan said on the BBC Test Match Special. IANS

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