Michael Vaughan sends Ashes warning to Australia after England beat South Africa

Michael Vaughan has backed England to overcome Australia and regain the Ashes next summer after they secured an impressive series win over South Africa.

Ben Stokes’ side smashed South Africa by nine wickets in the deciding Test at The Oval to complete an impressive comeback following a crushing defeat in the series opener.

The victory gave Stokes and Brendon McCullum a sixth win from seven Tests in their first summer in charge of the side.

England had only won one of their previous 17 Tests before the appointment of Stokes as Test captain and McCullum as head coach, suffering a 4-0 Ashes defeat in Australia last winter.

Australia will bid to retain the Ashes on these shores next summer and Vaughan believes Stokes’ England have what it takes to take back the urn.

‘In the space of seven Test matches England have sent a message to me and to many others,’ former captain Vaughan told the Daily Telegraph.

‘At the start of April, if you had said they had a chance to win back the Ashes next year we would have said there was no way they could do it.

‘But, on the back of a remarkable summer of Test cricket, it is clear: England can regain the urn next summer.

‘Australia will respect the aggressive way that England have played this summer. And they will fear it too, knowing that England can attack and are so dangerous from all positions.

‘The England side who Australia meet next summer will be nothing like the side who lost 4-0 Down Under last winter. It could be an incredible summer of cricket.

‘The Australians will think that England have no chance against their attack playing like this, but I think it is the way to unsettle them.

‘When Australia have lost in recent times it has been against teams who have played aggressively against them