Former England captain Michael Vaughan has criticised the English players for the lacklustre performance in the ongoing first Ashes Test. Vaughan said that England looked a shadow of their former selves, and if not for a significant total in the first innings, when they unexpectedly declared on Day 1, they would be at a significant disadvantage.
Despite the batting performances. Vaughan was disappointed at the work in the field by the Englishman, who saw a number of catches being put down. The former captain pointed out that such a performance on the first day of the Test match does not bode well for the English.
Vaughan also highlighted the fact that the pitch greatly facoured the batsmen, which further complicated matters for them. However, they did manage to do well, capturing an seven-run lead at the end of the first innings.
Australia’s 286 in response to the total keeps the match hanging in the balance, meaning that they would have to bat extremely well to offer the Ausses an imposing tribure.
Joe Root and Usman Khawaja’s brilliant centuries were the backbone of their side’s innings, as the two batsmen ensured that their nations got to competitive totals. After the end of the first innings, England do have a slender lead, which they will hope to capitalise on.
“England will be rueing those missed chances. And on this pitch, which is very flat, my concern is their bodies. They looked jaded and this is their first day in the dirt of a five-match series over six weeks. I was a bit concerned with Ollie Robinson today. He seemed to go off the pitch a lot. I’m not sure if there is an issue with his ankle.”
Vaughan said.
“The problem is this pitch is so slow and hard for the seamers, when you are asked to bowl bouncers, it takes it out of you. If they are going to be playing on these pitches for the next six weeks then some of these seamers are going to be in a hole,”
he concluded.
