Cricket News

Former England player lashes out at team for their poor batting approach on Day 2 of second Ashes Test

After a great battle between bat and ball in the first Ashes Test, where Australia recorded a thrilling win over the host England. The second Test match at Lords’ was also expected to same affair as both the teams looked very balanced. The Pat Cummins-led side looked formidable in their first innings the visitors scored 416 on the back of a gritty century from Steven Smith who scored his 32^nd Test century and scored 110 off 184 deliveries.

The host started steadily keeping along with their “Bazball” style of cricket. But once when they were looking on top and were cruising at one stage with the score of 188/1 and then the English side ended Day 2 losing three quick wickets late in the day on 278/4. Citing this, the former England captain Michael Vaughan as well as Geoffrey Boycott lashed out at Ben Stokes led side for throwing away their advantage which the host gained on Day 2 of the second Ashes Test.

“That is not entertaining, I’m sorry, that is stupid Test match cricket and Australia will be delighted with that method because when the ball is not swinging over the next few weeks, guess what they are going to do,” the former England Captain Michael Vaughan said on BBC Test Match Special.

Vaughan even highlighted the dismissal of Zak Crawley and lashed out at Crawley stating that it is typical of his type of dismissal after getting set and then throwing it away. The 25-year-old was batting terrifically on 48 and just gifted his wicket away.

“That’s the problem with this England side …. they don’t realize when they’re on top. They just carry on with this method. There was no need for that dismissal. You get beauty on a pitch like this, you say well bowled, but there are not many beauties going to be bowled on this surface at the minute. Play sensibly,” Vaughan concluded.

The former England player also went on to say that the way the team batted later in the day was simply stupidity as the team did not take the most of the terrific start they had.  Michael Vaughan remarked that England’s performance was simply stupid cricket and not at all entertaining. I watched an England team that went up to bat and played with tremendous amusement for the first 182 runs because they used correct cricket strokes.