Wasim Jaffer takes a brutal dig at Michael Vaughan as England slip in ICC Rankings
Former cricketers Wasim Jaffer and Michael Vaughan have been central figures in fueling the India–England rivalry off the field. Vaughan often uses England’s success as an opportunity to tease Jaffer, while the latter never fails to return the favor. The recently concluded India vs England Test series provided ample opportunities for both ex-cricketers to engage in online banter. The thrilling Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy staged a nail-biting series that ultimately ended in a 2-2 draw. However, the conclusion of the five-Test series does not mark the end of Vaughan and Jaffer’s tussle. The Indian counterpart recently grabbed the chance to mock Vaughan as England slipped down in the latest ICC Rankings.
Wasim Jaffer takes a 'spirit of the cricket' jab at Michael Vaughan after England falls in the latest ICC Rankings
Over the past few years, the growing India vs England rivalry has often extended beyond the field, with Wasim Jaffer and Michael Vaughan engaging in frequent banter online. The two former cricketers rarely miss an opportunity to take a swipe at each other, especially when their respective teams stumble. In the latest instance of this tightly-contested banter, England’s collapse in the ODI fixture against South Africa gave Jaffer just the opening he needed.
Playing the opening game of the home series against the Proteas, England were bowled out for a mere 131 in the first ODI at Leeds. The forgettable show led to the English team slipping down to the eighth place in the ICC Men’s ODI rankings. The recent slump displayed a dramatic fall for a side that was crowned World Cup champions only six years ago and continues to aspire to be among the game’s elite.
The defeat was a new low for English cricket, and Wasim Jaffer wasted no time in capitalizing on the moment. Sharing a screenshot of the updated rankings, which displayed India firmly at the top and England languishing in eighth, he tagged Vaughan’s X (formerly Twitter) account and fired off a cheeky jab. In doing so, Jaffer not only ridiculed England’s steep drop in the standings but also revived old debates about the ‘spirit of cricket,’ a subject often raised by English commentators to justify their foul cries against opponents.
“England at No. 8… surely against the spirit of cricket. ICC should look into this," Jaffer wrote in his crisp but hard-hitting message to Vaughan.
England at No. 8… surely against the spirit of cricket. ICC should look into this. @MichaelVaughan pic.twitter.com/txSFOtJnh0
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) September 3, 2025
The latest slump against South Africa adds to a series of setbacks for England in the 50-over format. The team has not managed to perform strongly in ODIs for quite some time now. England followed their 2019 ODI World Cup win with a group-stage exit in the next edition of the ICC tournament. Meanwhile, their most recent outing in a marquee event was equally disappointing, as the Three Lions crashed out of the ICC Champions Trophy in the group stage after defeats to Afghanistan and South Africa. The frustrating conclusion of the Champions Trophy saw Jos Buttler relinquish his white-ball captaincy. Now, with Harry Brook taking over the role, the youngster faces the stern challenge of reviving England’s stature in the format.
