Former Australian cricketer Kerry O’Keeffe made enjoyable of former England skipper Michael Vaughan after he picked the very best gamers out of the Australian and England groups to kind his mixed XI for the following yr’s Ashes 2025.
Michael Vaughan chosen some surprising names from each England and Australia, and his taking part in XI grew to become the middle of an amusing debate through the third Check of the continued Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 between Australia and India at The Gabba in Brisbane.
Michael Vaughan picks mixed Ashes XI; Kerry O’Keeffe’s response steals the present through the Gabba Check
Vaughan’s lineup featured a mixture of seasoned stars and rising abilities, with the England captain and all-rounder Ben Stokes main his mixed XI within the Ashes 2025 and gamers like Usman Khawaja, Joe Root, and Pat Cummins forming the core.
Curiously, the previous England captain picked an all-Australian bowling assault, that includes Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, and Josh Hazlewood, elevating issues over his perception in his nationwide crew’s bowling assault, which is at present going by way of the transition section.
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Michael Vaughan stated on the commentary field through the Gabba Check as reported by Code Cricket: “Simply yesterday I used to be just a bit bit bored; I used to be watching England play just a bit bit indifferently, and I believed, I will create a mixed eleven for subsequent yr’s Ashes sequence. That is what I’ve gone with; that is the mix that I’ve gone with. Do you agree with all that?”
Nonetheless, Michael Vaughan’s surprising alternatives, like Jacob Bethell at quantity three and Harry Brook forward of Travis Head, raised eyebrows. Whereas Vaughan defended his picks, citing current performances, it wasn’t sufficient to persuade Kerry O’Keeffe.
Kerry O’Keeffe questions Steve Smith and Travis Head’s exclusion
The previous Australian bowler couldn’t maintain again his response, questioning the omission of stalwarts like Steve Smith and laughing at Vaughan’s logic for choosing the younger Bethell on the very essential quantity three batting place for such an ultra-intense Check sequence between the 2 outdated foes.
Kerry O’Keeffe burst into laughter and stated, “No. No, Steve Smith? Joe Root, a Yorkshireman within the center order, who would have thought? And Jacob Bethell from Barbados at three. I noticed a pen image of Jacob Bethel, favourite participant Viv Richards, and the particular person I might most like to satisfy, Bob Marley. And he is batting three for England; what’s going on? The captain, look who the captain is, Ben Stokes; he is the skipper. New Zealander, he is taken the brand-new rock. Harry Brook over Travis Head!!!!”
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Effectively, the commentary field become a stage for comedian banter as Kerry O’Keeffe poked enjoyable at Michael Vaughan’s resolution to drop confirmed match-winners like Travis Head for Harry Brook and Steve Smith for Bethell.
“It is a ridiculous choice”: Kerry O’Keeffe on Michael Vaughan’s mixed XI for Ashes 2025
As everybody on the commentary field laughed their coronary heart out, Vaughan defined, “It was a difficult resolution, however I’ve gone with Harry; he is the primary participant on this planet, so I needed to stick to Harry Brook at quantity 5, given his current kind.”
Even Vaughan’s reasoning behind selecting Harry Brook because the quantity 5 batter over Head added to the laughter, with everybody having fun with the full of life alternate. Nonetheless, the Australian O’Keeffe talked about Head’s two tons within the ongoing five-match Check sequence in opposition to India at house.
Kerry O’Keeffe’s remaining verdict on Vaughan’s XI summed up the temper completely—he discovered Vaughan’s XI nothing in need of outrageous. He summed up Vaughan’s choice by saying, “It is a ridiculous choice.”
Michael Vaughan’s Mixed XI for Ashes 2025:
Ben Duckett, Usman Khawaja, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (C), Jamie Smith (WK), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.
It is truthful to say Kerry O’Keeffe wasn’t a fan of Michael Vaughan’s mixed XI for subsequent yr’s Ashes. 😂 pic.twitter.com/P1IV3yoRq1
— CODE Cricket (@codecricketau) December 17, 2024
