Michael Vaughan Slams Ben Stokes' Toss Call Vs India: 'Traditions Have Gone...'

Michael Vaughan Slams Ben Stokes' Toss Call Vs India: 'Traditions Have Gone...'

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Last Updated: June 21, 2025, 07:40 IST

Michael Vaughan was 'staggered' and felt Ben Stokes had thrown 'traditions out of the window' by opting to bowl first against India at Headingley.

Michael Vaughan (L) was critical of Ben Stokes' decision. (PC: AFP, AP)

Former England captain Michael Vaughan was ‘staggered’ by Ben Stokes’ decision to bowl first against India in the first Test of the Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy at Headingley on Saturday (June 20). Vaughan felt that on a dry surface with the sun shining, it was an ‘easy’ choice to bat first, but, Stokes prioritised stats and history more than the situation and threw the ‘traditions out of the window’.

At the toss, Stokes said he wanted to use the conditions early on, while Indian captain Shubman Gill, too, said he’d have chosen to bowl first. But the pitch settled quickly after the early movement, and the batters made merry. Gill remained unbeaten at 127 (175) with Rishabh Pant (65 off 102) after the foundations were laid by Yashasvi Jaiswal (101 off 159) and KL Rahul (42 off 78). India went to stumps at a strong 359/3.

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“I’m a bit of an old-school traditionalist here at Leeds that, when the sun shines, it’s quite an easy decision, particularly with the build-up to the Test match and it being so dry and so nice," Vaughan said on the BBC’s Test Match Special, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo. “I was staggered… when I heard he was going to bowl first. I thought, traditions have gone out the window."

“I know England have won chasing here quite a number of times over the recent times, but you always have to pick your decisions on that moment: just because you’ve won a year ago, two years ago or three years ago, it can’t really affect what the decision is today. And they’ve allowed India with a youngish batting line-up and a new captain to just go and play," he said.

Vaughan added that Stokes’ ‘gut feeling’ didn’t work this time.

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“You look at the suits of the England side and their strength, really, is in the batting," he added. “Ben just had a gut feeling, I guess, and in recent times it’s worked."

England only had Stokes’ two wickets and Brydon Carse’s one — all three more about Indians making unforced errors — to show for. Bowling consultant Tim Southee defended the call, saying the pitch had ‘a little bit of moisture’ that the hosts wanted to use.

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First Published: June 21, 2025, 07:40 IST

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