28 June 2023 , 16:21
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England legend Kevin Pietersen has branded their performance in the second Ashes Test "absolutely shambolic" and urged coach Brendon McCullum to give the players the "biggest hammering" during the tea break.
After winning the toss and opting to field first in helpful bowling conditions, England failed to make any early breakthroughs as David Warner and Usman Khawaja put on an opening partnership worth 77 before Josh Tongue bowled Khawaja on the stroke of lunch. And Pietersen has brutally laid into England for their performance in the field, criticising their lack of urgency and decision-making.
"From an English perspective it's been shambolic, absolutely shambolic," Pietersen told Sky Sports. "You have overhead conditions, you have a wicket that suits your bowlers and you've got bowlers running in at 78, 79, 80mph.
"It is one thing swanning around saying, 'hey, this is a wonderful team to play in, we are creating the best environment', but this is not Ashes cricket. I've played Ashes cricket, I've played 30 Test matches against Australia.
"The Australians here were out to bat before the English bowlers this morning. The English bowlers should have been on those stairs saying, 'we want to bowl at Australia, we're desperate to bowl at Australia'.
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"The two Australian batters are out there waiting for England. They're the ones who should have been in the dressing room saying, 'hold on we don't want to bat'. It's all too easy and it's all too nice. Are you telling me Ricky Ponting in 2005 is going to be talking to Geraint Jones?
"Do you think Michael Vaughan would be standing next to Justin Langer saying, 'hey mate, what a cool day. Look at this it's overcast, it's beautiful. What an awesome day at Lord's'. Are you joking? Are you absolutely joking?
Pietersen said coach Brendon McCullum should have given England the "biggest hammering" during the tea break (Stu Forster/Getty Images)"I just hope they're in their dressing room now and the England coach is giving them the biggest hammering and saying, 'it's not good enough. It's absolutely not good enough. You cannot bowl that here today, you cannot declare for 390'. Do you think Australia are declaring today? Do you think Australia are getting 390 and then saying, 'England go and have a bat'? No chance."
Eoin Morgan, meanwhile, criticised England's lack of intensity, adding: "In the two sessions so far today, Australia seemed to be streets ahead when the advantage should be in England’s favour. In the last 14 Test matches under Stokes and McCullum, it has been intense, it has been well-driven and there has been huge clarity – but not today.
"Australia have been on top. You have to be so good when you are competing against the best in the world and England are going to have to lift things in all departments."