Former England Player Michael Vaughan has slammed England’s Bazball approach after they were bundled out for 325 runs in response to Australia’s first innings total of 416 on Day 3 in the ongoing second Ashes Test at Lord’s on Friday, June 30 as well. Mitchell Starc dismissed England captain Ben Stokes (17), Joe Root (10), and Harry Brook (50) with short-length deliveries as well. Meanwhile, Jonny Bairstow (16), Ollie Pope (42), and Ben Duckett (98) threw their wickets despite having good starts.
The veteran told the BBC Test Match Special: “England clearly like losing. Seeing a player play a shot like that, it’s just not good enough at this level. This is stupid cricket from England. I fear they have forgotten the art of soaking up periods of the game that aren’t easy. Test cricket is a test and in that test sometimes you have to soak up pressure. They have gifted wickets to Australia, who are without their off-spinner [Nathan Lyon].”
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However, England could only manage to add only 47 runs to their overnight score of 278/4, as wickets fell in quick successions in the first session of Day 3. Nasser Hussain has also said that the short balls are the problems for England batters during the second Ashes Test.
The veteran told Channel Nine: “There’s a time to attack and a time to defend. What you don’t want to do this early in a five-match series is show the opposition you are susceptible to the short ball.”
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Meanwhile, Kevin Pietersen also questioned Harry Brook’s dismissal as he got out to Australian captain Pat Cummins at cover after completing his half-century. He told Sky Sports: “I don’t think Harry Brook has shown anybody that he plays the short ball very well, so unfortunately for him the next three Test matches are not going to be fun. A 91-run run lead for Australia. You wouldn’t have thought that coming into this ground this morning.”
Notably, Australia ended Day 4 at 130/2 with Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith in the middle. They have stretched their lead to 221 runs as well.
