This is not Ashes, it's shambolicKevin Pietersen tears into England after Australia dominate Lord's Test on Day 1

By India Today Sports DeskFormer England captain Kevin Pietersen tore into Ben Stokes’s side for not showing enough intent to trouble the Australian side on Day 1 of the 2nd Ashes Test at Lord’s in London. England won the toss on an overcast morning but the hosts failed to turn up with the ball as Australia posted in excess of 300 on the opening day.

Kevin Pietersen, speaking to Sky Sports, was disappointed with the bowling effort, lambasting the pace at which their three senior bowlers in James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Ollie Robinson bowled. It was Josh Tongue who got the early wicket of Birmingham Test centurion Usman Khawaja.

Ashes, 2nd Test Day 1 Highlights

However, David Warner, who was dropped when he was on 20, pushed on and got 66, his first Test fifty at Lord’s since 2015. Warner and Khawaja added 73 runs for the opening wicket as the two batters completely diffused the new-ball threat in overcast conditions. England were guilty of not pushing hard enough in favourable conditions as Warner and Khawaja survived the tricky phase.

Warner was out bowled by Josh Tongue but Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne joined hands and added 102 runs for the 3rd wicket. Smith got off to a blazing start, putting balls away with ease before he settled into his rhythm. Labuschagne missed out on his fifty but Smith and Travis Head kicked on and added 118 runs in quick time.

“Not a lot caught my eye from an English perspective. it’s been shambolic, absolutely shambolic. You have overhead conditions, you have a wicket that suits your bowlers. And you have your bowlers running in at 78, 78 and 80 mph. There’s one thing, walking here, swarming around and saying ‘hey, this is a wonderful team to play in, we are creating the best environment’,” Pietersen said.

“But this is not Ashes cricket. I have played Ashes cricket, 30 Tests against Australia. The Australian batters were out on those stairs to bat before the English bowlers this morning. The English bowlers should have been there, showing they are desperate to bowl at Australia,” he added.

‘BIGGEST HAMMERING’

England had promised more aggressive cricket despite losing the first Test by a whisker. England dominated the Birmingham Test for most of it but lost by 2 wickets after Australia chased down 281 in the series opener.

Questions were asked of their aggressive approach, dubbed as Bazball, after England declared their first innings as early as Day 1 in Birmingham and still went on to lose the Test.

Kevin Pietersen not just questioned the body language on the field but also criticised the two sets of players for having a friendly chat before the start of the play.

Visuals showed that Warner and Khawaja made their way to the ground well before the England bowlers walked out for the morning session. Also, the likes of Joe Root and Ollie Pope were seen having a friendly chat with Khawaja and Pietersen did not like the scenes, one bit.

“And it’s all too easy. It’s all too nice (England players talking to Aussie openers at the start). Do you think Ricky Ponting in 2005 is going to be talking to Geraint Jones? Do you think a Michael Vaughan was going to be talking to Justin Langer and say ‘hey mate, what a cool day? It’s overcast, it’s beautiful’,” he added.

“Are you joking? Are you absolutely joking? I just hope they are in their dressing room now and the England coach is giving them their biggest hammering and saying ‘it’s not good enough!’. You can’t bowl like here today. You can’t have these conditions. You can’t declare at 390. You think Australia would declare today? They get to 390, and declare? No chanc,” he added.