'Don’t recollect Jimmy Anderson never taking the second new ball' - Michael Vaughan slams Ben Stokes' strategy in 1st Ashes 2023 Test

Former English cricketer Michael Vaughan voiced surprise at Ben Stokes' decision to deny Jimmy Anderson a second new ball on the fifth day of the Edgbaston Test against Australia on Tuesday. In the final few minutes of the first Ashes 2023 Test, Stuart Broad and Ollie Robinson took the second new ball for the hosts.

However, Broad and Robinson were unable to break the ninth-wicket Australian partnership of Pat Cummins (44*), the team's captain, and Nathan Lyon (16*). The pair's decisive 55-run partnership lifted Australia to a remarkable two-wicket triumph in the first Ashes on Tuesday, June 20.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan gave an assessment of the England captain's strategy and affirmed that Anderson did not bowl a single over with the second new ball as Stokes placed the confidence in Broad and Robinson instead of him. "Jimmy Anderson is not bowling with the second new ball. I don’t recall Jimmy Anderson ever taking the second new ball in English conditions. It was crying out, and the lights were on. You just felt, Go on, Jimmy and Broady—dead easy, nice, and straight to Nathan Lyon. He’s going to play across the line of one," Vaughan said while talking to Cricbuzz.

A special five days: Michael Vaughan on the Edgbaston suspense

Considering the fact that England failed the first Ashes 2023 Test at Edgbaston, the 48-year-old described the contest as "a special five days." He also emphasized that the win for Australia is a huge one and the Aussies played a safe game while calling it expensive for the English team.

“That was a special five days. The end of the game always creates that tension, but throughout every single day that we have seen, two teams playing contrasting styles - the Aussies playing a safer game or traditional one and England playing a game that’s very expansive. For the Aussies to get that win, that is huge for them,” Vaughan added further.