Former England captain Michael Vaughan has accused England of being “too friendly with Australia” after a costly opening day of the second Ashes Test.
England won the toss and chose to bowl under cloudy skies at Lord’s, but Australia closed the opening day on 339 for five with Steve Smith 85 not out after Ben Stokes’ side failed to make the most of favourable conditions.
The opening morning was briefly disrupted by protestors from Just Stop Oil. At the start of the second over of the day, three protestors entered the field attempting to spread orange powder but they were stopped just in time, in part thanks to England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow who carried one off the field.
Vaughan, who led England to their famous Ashes victory in 2005, said that he was concerned that England were being too welcoming to the visitors after play resumed.
“England have been too friendly with Australia this series – and it’s not the way to go,” Vaughan told Telegraph Sport. “The Ashes is not just another series and never has been. It’s a stressful, draining and exhausting thing to be part of.
“I don’t think England are being smart being so friendly with the Aussies, chatting to them so freely during breaks in play. It all feels too easy and welcoming for Australia. They’re the away team in an Ashes series, but they’re being allowed to treat it all like it’s just another game of cricket. But it’s not – it’s the Ashes.
“I think this approach is really hurting England, allowing Australia to settle too easily. And maybe it’s why England haven’t been quite switched on enough at key moments at Edgbaston and so far at Lord’s. It’s really costing them. I don’t think it’s the right way to go.”
Kevin Pietersen, one of England’s heroes in the 2005 Ashes, also voiced his concerns about the side being too friendly with Australia on Sky Sports as he laid into England’s display.
“It’s been shambolic, absolutely shambolic,” Pietersen said. “It’s one thing swanning round saying ‘this is a wonderful team to play’. But this is not Ashes cricket. I’ve played Ashes cricket.
“Are you telling me Ricky Ponting in 2005 is going to be talking to Geraint Jones, you think Michael Vaughan is going to be stood next to Justin Langer and saying ‘hey, what a cool day’? Are you joking? Are you absolutely joking? I just hope they’re in their dressing room now and the England coach is giving them the biggest hammering saying ‘it’s not good enough’.”
England dropped two catches before lunch on the opening day and have already bowled 12 no-balls. Pietersen also criticised the side’s lack of intensity.
“Expectation is one thing and these guys would have been expecting to bowl Australia out today, and it’s just getting sloppy,” he said. “Not enough balls in the right area and the speeds haven’t been up.”
England pace bowler Josh Tongue, who dismissed both Australia’s openers during his second Test, admitted that the side were frustrated not to take more wickets in the morning session.
“We were really unlucky in the first hour, lots of plays and misses,” Tongue said. “Early morning, winning the toss, we’d have liked a few more wickets in that early session. Going into lunch they could easily have been four or five down, but I felt as a unit we stuck at it really well.”
Tongue said that England hoped that they might receive more assistance from the wicket.
“We thought it was very two-paced, some were coming through nicely and some were bouncing even before Jonny. Maybe we thought it would have done a bit more but we stuck to our task quite well.”
But Tongue said that England were buoyed by Joe Root taking two wickets with his off spin in the final session – removing Travis Head for an aggressive 77 and then dismissing Cameron Green for a duck.
“It was massive – those two wickets Rooty got were crucial for that time of the game. They were going at a good rate and that was crucial. Hopefully tomorrow we can get a few more early.”
England are hopeful that Ollie Pope’s shoulder injury, which was sustained fielding and caused him to be off the field for much of the day, will not stop him batting. He will be assessed before day two’s play.
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