England cricket captain Ben Stokes has been handed a big warning by former skipper Michael Vaughan ahead of the Test series against India
Comments
Former Newcastle United manager Kevin Keegan (c) reacts with Assistant Terry McDermott (left). Inset: England cricket captain Ben Stokes
Former Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan (c) reacts with Assistant Terry McDermott (left). Inset: England cricket captain Ben Stokes
England cricket captain Ben Stokes knows a thing or two about football as he prepares to lead his side into two huge Tests series against India and then this winter's Ashes against Australia.
So the Durham all-rounder will know exactly what former skipper Michael Vaughan meant when he warned him to avoid being labelled with the same tag that haunted Kevin Keegan's Newcastle United.
Keegan famously led the Magpies out of the then Second Division in 1992 before taking the Premier League by storm with a swashbuckling brand of football which saw his side branded 'The Entertainers'.
United finished third in their first season in the top flight under KK, and then came agonisingly close to winning the title in 1996, only to see a 12-point lead evaporate as Manchester United pipped them to the post.
A trophy eluded Keegan during his two spells at United manager, with Eddie Howe becoming the first head coach to lift silverware for the club since Joe Harvey's side won the Fairs Cup in 1969.
Stokes and England head coach Brendon McCullum have similarly stamped their own exciting style on the England Test side, with their 'Bazball' tactics attracting much praise and ensuring fan flock to games.
Article continues below
But while few bemoan the absence of dull, ground-out victories, Vaughan has warned that winning remains the bottom line. And Sheffield Wednesday fan Vaughan has used Keegan's one failing to underline what England need to do against India, with the first Test starting on Friday (June 20).
File photo dated 29-08-2024 of Ben Stokes, who is set to miss this year's Hundred after not being included in the Northern Superchargers squad as retained players and new signings were announced on Tuesday. Issue date: Tuesday February 25, 2025.
England Test captain Ben Stokes(Image: © 2025 PA Media, All Rights Reserved)
"Now it's about winning," he told the Daily Mail. "Look at 2019 when we won the World Cup. Did England play the cricket that they'd been playing previously to win that final? Did they heck. They had to dig deep and play the old school horrible way, but they won.
"They are remembered as winners. I always revert back to the Newcastle football side of the 1990s - the Kevin Keegan era. Bloody great, we talk about them, but they didn't win. Make sure you're not that. Make sure that you're not the most entertaining England side that's ever been, but not won an Ashes. Don't leave it until 2027.
"I just want to see that ruthless approach this summer and if you get on a winning run, win every game. I look at all high-level sports teams and I don't see a relaxed environment. I see a high intensity, high performance environment, and that's sometimes tough, hard work. It's not always smiles and patting on the back."
Vaughan admits he's been surprised by Stokes' lack of gametime ahead of what will be a tough Test series against India.
Article continues below
"I've been staggered by the lack of time in the middle that Ben's had as a batter," he said. "He didn't have a great year last year when he got his injuries.
"A Scottie Scheffler or a footballer going into a major event would be playing. He's had no game time. Why wouldn't you want to play for England Lions just for a knock, not to bowl? He was bowling against Zimbabwe, and clearly he's fine, but why wouldn't you just want a bit of time in the middle? Call me old school, but I think it's quite nice to go out and hit a few balls.
"England can only win in Australia with him, and that's him being the all-rounder. If he goes to Australia just as the batter, that completely breaks the balance of the team and as much as he's a genius captain, the team are 30-40 per cent better when he bowls. To win in Australia, he has to be bowling and batting well."