Former skipper implores his old side to chase rather than set the target in Brisbane if they are to level the Ashes 1-1, a move directly out of the Bazball playbook.

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Batting first is a proven highway to success in day-night Tests, but Michael Vaughan says England’s best chance of squaring the Ashes series at the Gabba is to chase a total.

The former England captain’s view lines up with England’s modus operandi and their proven results.

Since Brendon McCullum took over as coach in May 2022, England have successfully chased scores of 350-plus twice (373 and 378 versus India). They are the two biggest successful chases in England’s history.

They lost to India by six runs chasing 374 this year, and also have two successful chases in the 290s.

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“If England are going to win at the Gabba they will play their expansive game. Funnily enough, England’s best chance is to lose the toss and chase,” Vaughan told AAP.

“This England batting unit … they seem to play better when they have a number on the board to aim for.

“They get confused batting first and never quite know how to play it. Even though we know in a pink-ball game winning the toss is hugely crucial, it might not be a bad toss for England to lose at the Gabba.”

Since McCullum took over as coach, England have won the toss and elected to bowl first 16 times, batting first just seven times.

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However, in 45 day-night Tests played worldwide, the team that batted first has won 27 of them.

New Zealand are the only team to have won the toss, bowled first and won. That was against England in Auckland in 2018.

It would be a brave captain, England’s Ben Stokes included, to win the toss and bowl at the Gabba.

That is why Vaughan, despite his view on England’s best chance of victory, is certain the captain winning the toss will bat first.

“You definitely have to. It’s the only guarantee of you batting in daylight,” he said.

“You have to bat first, and if you bat well you bat into day two and get a chance to potentially bowl first in the twilight conditions on the second day. 

“If you bat badly you are still going to be bowling when the lights are on, so it’s an absolute no-brainer to bat first in a day-nighter.”

Vaughan will be at the Gabba in his commentary role with Kayo Sports. He is of the view that England have the side to bounce back in both batting and bowling.

The attack that includes Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Mark Wood, Brydon Carse and Stokes ripped through Australia in the first innings of the first Test and are ideally suited to conditions.

“This England side, in terms of toolset, is the best team I have seen come down to Australia in the conditions they have to play in,” Vaughan said.

“It is not like the old Australia where you needed a world-class spinner. You genuinely don’t need that in Australia any more. The pitches do enough for the seamers.

“They have got a batting group from No.4 to No.7 in Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes and Jamie Smith … I don’t know if we’ve had a better four in those positions. It’s just a matter of whether they can play smart.

“The way England will try and win it is by playing the expansive game, which comes at high risk. I fundamentally think they can come back, but they will have to play in a more sensible fashion.”

2025-26 NRMA Insurance Men’s Ashes

First Test: Australia won by eight wickets

Second Test: December 4-8, The Gabba, Brisbane (D/N), 3pm AEDT

Third Test: December 17-21: Adelaide Oval, 10:30am AEDT

Fourth Test: December 26-30: MCG, Melbourne, 10:30am AEDT

Fifth Test: January 4-8: SCG, Sydney, 10:30am AEDT

Australia squad (second Test only): Steve Smith (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster

England squad: Ben Stokes (c), Harry Brook (vc), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wk), Josh Tongue, Mark Wood