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‘Coaches should give the biggest hammering’: Kevin Pietersen tears into ‘shambolic’ England in 2nd Ashes Test
Kevin Petersen said England coach Brendon McCullum and others should be giving the players "the biggest hammering" for "not being good enough".
Kevin Pietersen went on a rant, using pointed words and asking difficult questions about England's tactics and approach on Day 1 of the second Ashes Test against Australia at Lord's. England, trailing 0-1 in the five-match series, opted to bowl first after winning the toss under overcast conditions. Considering England's bowling attack and the nature of the pitch, the hosts were expected to make early inroads but what followed was a David Warner show well-supported by a stubborn act from Usman Khawaja. England got only one wicket, that of Khawaja (17) at the stroke of lunch, in the first session as Australia went to the break at 73/1.
The second session wasn't any better. Apart from youngster Josh Tongue's absolute ripper of a delivery that found the gap between Warner's bat and pad, there was nothing really to talk about from England's perspective. There was plenty for Australia though. Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne got together and started to bat as freely as a Saturday evening walk.
James Anderson and Stuart Broad were down on pace and got nothing out of the surface. Australia went to Tea at 190 for two in 50 overs, scoring at nearly 4 runs an over. That is when Pietersen launched a scathing attack on the English bowlers.
“Not a lot has caught my eye from an English perspective … It’s been shambolic. Absolutely Shambolic,” Pietersen said on Sky Sports during the Tea break. “You have overhead conditions, you have a wicket that suits your bowlers, you have bowlers running in at 78, 79 mile an hour.
The former England captain said coach Brendon McCullum and others should be giving the players "the biggest hammering" for "not being good enough".
“I hope they’re in that dressing room now and the England coaches are giving them the biggest hammering in saying it’s not good enough. It’s absolutely not good enough. You cannot bowl that here today, you cannot have these conditions, you cannot declare for 390 … you think Australia are declaring today? You think Australia are getting 390 and saying England go have a bat.
“No chance.”
'Are you absolutely joking': Pietersen gives Ponting, Vaughan examples to slam England's body language
Pietersen also took a dig at the body language of the England bowlers and said that the Australian openers looked more keen to get on with the game rather than the English players.
“It’s one thing walking here, swanning around saying, ‘Hey, this is a wonderful team to play in, we’re creating the best environment.’ But this isn’t Ashes cricket.
“I’ve played Ashes cricket, I’ve played nearly 30 Test matches against Australia. The Australians were outside to bat before the English bowlers.
“The English bowlers this morning should have been on those stairs saying we want to bowl at Australia. We’re desperate to bowl at Australia. These two Australian batters are out there waiting for England.
“They’re the ones that should be in the room saying, ‘No, no, we don’t want to bat,’ and it’s all too easy and it’s all too nice.”
“Are you telling me that in 2005 Ricky Ponting will be talking to Geriant Jones?” he said.
“You think Michael Vaughan will be talking to Justin Langer saying hey mate, awesome, what a cool day, It’s overcast, it’s beautiful. What an environment here at Lord’s …
“Are you joking? Are you absolutely joking?".
If it weren't for a double-wicket over by Joe Roort in the final session of Day 1 where he dismissed Labuschagne (47) and Cam Green (0), England would have been staring down the barrel very early into the Test match. They still are with Smith nearing his century and Alex Carey looking good, taking the visitors to 339/5 at stumps.
