Root must ‘con’ players into Ashes mindset: Vaughan

Englandcaptain Joe Root must convince his team they can win in Australia, evenif he has to “lie a bit and con” them, says former Ashes-winningskipper Michael Vaughan.Vaughan, speaking just over a week beforeEngland depart, said Steve Smith’s Australians are still a formidableside at home even though they are not the dominant force they once were.Thetourists, who could be without talismanic all-rounder Ben Stokes, willbe desperate to avoid anything like the 5-0 drubbing handed out to themlast time they travelled Down Under in 2013-14 but there are questionsover the make-up of the side, particularly the top order.“His (Root’s) greatest challenge is going to be to convince the team they can win,” said Vaughan. “Itmay be that he has to lie a bit and con them. He might have to blow up afew tyres that might be flat and convince them they are good enough tobeat this Australian team. “I don’t think it is right to go thereand talk down the Aussies. I’ve been around captains that do that and itdoesn’t work. It is worth saying they are good. They are not what theywere 20 years ago but they are dangerous and you know what they willproduce over five matches.”Vaughan, who famously captained Englandto a home Ashes triumph in 2005, ending 16 years of Australiandomination, said Root would have to convince his players that they couldnot blitz the opposition into submission.“I don’t see them blowing Australia away in three days,” said the former captain. “Theywill win over there by playing how they did in 2010-11, by scoring lotsof runs in the first innings, batting for periods of time, nullifyinggood spells of bowling and not thinking ‘we are going to attack all thetime’.”Root’s men, who are Ashes holders after winning at home in2015, will start their campaign in the notoriously hostile arena of theGabba in Brisbane on November 23They may be without Stokes, who willnot be on the flight out on October 28, though no final decision hasbeen taken on his involvement in the series.The Test vice-captainwas arrested in September on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm andsuspended from internationals until further notice following anapparent fight outside a nightclub.The powerful all-rounder, who wasreleased without charge but remains under investigation, was includedin the Ashes squad despite reportedly injuring his hand in the incidentthat led to his arrest.Vaughan, speaking at the launch of BT Sport’sAshes coverage in London in his capacity as a pundit, admitted that ifStokes were missing, it would be a huge boost for the opposition.“I am sure Australia respect a lot of our players but the one they fear the most is not going to be there,” he said.“I’venot seen too many celebrations from the Australians but I am sure inprivate they have cracked open a few bottles. If (batsman David) Warnerwas injured next week and out of the Ashes I am sure you would find theEngland players celebrating. “It is not disrespecting Alastair Cookbut I would say Stokes is England’s second best player with the bat.With the ball he is erratic at times but he has an impact. “In thefield you know he will produce something. More importantly it is hismindset. I watch England walk out on the field and when Stokes is in theteam they walk out two inches taller. If he is not there in Brisbaneyou would have to say the Australians are clear favourites to win theseries.”England have lost two of their past three tours in Australia 5-0, either side of their 3-1 win in 2010/11.Following the Brisbane opener, they play further Tests in Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne and Sydney.