Preparing Green Pitches Will Do More Harm Than Good For England Against India: Michael Vaughan

Former England captain Michael Vaughan feels Joe Root's side shouldn't prepare green tops in the series against India 'even if it gets them a couple of cheap Test wins'. 

Vaughan was disappointed with England's performance against New Zealand in the two-match test series and said they made a 'glaring tactical error' by not picking a specialist spinner in the playing XI. 

“They got lucky at Lord’s because it rained. But to make the same mistake two weeks in a row that is a glaring tactical error. The wicket was not gripping and offering a lot of turn, but you need a variation when it is hot and dry at Edgbaston,” Vaughan told The Telegraph.

“You actually end up bowling your seamers more in a four-man seam attack each than with three seamers and the spinner so if they had picked Jack Leach, Joe Root could have also kept his seamers fresher. I hope England do not make the same mistake against India.”

The player-turned commentator reckoned England must prepare 'good wickets' and get better at playing the long game which will help them prepare for the Ashes, later this year. 

“I do not believe playing on green tops against India even if it gets them a couple of cheap Test wins will do them any good whatsoever as they build to Australia away and beyond. They need to learn how to play, and win, on good Test pitches."

“The past few weeks have been perfect wickets for Test cricket and regraded the team who has played the better cricket. England just have not been good enough. It has been a stark reminder that this Test match team have a long way to go before they can really think about beating Australia in Australia.”

Vaughan feels that New Zealand is the favorite to win the upcoming World Test Championship(WTC) Final against India since they had two very competitive games while the sub-continent nation just had an intra-squad match. 

“When you factor in that they made six changes for this Test, you just have to say they are a better side than England now, even with England not having Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, or Jofra Archer this series," Vaughan said. 

“I have New Zealand as favorites to win the World Test Championship final against India. They have had two very competitive games and will take some confidence. India have played intra-squad warm-up matches but that just is not the same intensity,” he added.