Absolutely shambolic – Kevin Pietersen rips into England after day one at Lord’s

Kevin Pietersen accused England of an “completely shambolic” opening day at Lord’s after Australia’s batters took management of the second Ashes Take a look at.

Pietersen, who was given the honour of ringing the bell earlier than the beginning of play, provided a stinging evaluation of England’s efforts with the ball after the vacationers reached the shut on 339 for 5.

Solely two late wickets in 4 balls from part-time spinner Joe Root prevented the end-of-play scorecard wanting even worse, Travis Head and Cameron Inexperienced each falling to unforced errors.

A scattering of dwell inexperienced grass and overhead clouds that had been gloomy sufficient to warrant floodlights all through the day appeared to trace at very best circumstances for England’s five-strong seam assault, but it surely was the vacationers who dictated the tone as half-centuries from David Warner (66), Travis Head (77) and Steve Smith (85no) left them nicely positioned.

“Not so much’s caught my eye from an English perspective, it’s been shambolic. Absolutely shambolic,” the 104-cap veteran advised Sky Sports activities.

“You’ve overhead circumstances, you’ve wickets that fit your bowlers and also you’ve obtained bowlers working in at 78, 79, 80 miles an hour.

“Now it’s one factor strolling right here, swanning round, saying ‘this can be a great group to play in, we’re creating the very best surroundings’. However this isn’t Ashes cricket.”

Pietersen additionally took situation with an obvious lack of edge on the sphere – only a week on from Australian criticism over Ollie Robinson’s expletive-filled send-off of Usman Khawaja at Edgbaston.

“It’s all too straightforward, too good. Are you telling me Ricky Ponting in 2005 goes to be speaking to Geraint Jones? You suppose Michael Vaughan goes to be stood subsequent to Justin Langer saying ‘hey mate, what a cool day, it’s overcast, it’s lovely, what an superior day, surroundings right here at Lord’s – what do you consider the wicket’?

Not so much’s caught my eye from an English perspective, it has been shambolic. Absolutely shambolic

Kevin Pietersen

“Are you joking? Are you completely joking? I simply hope they’re of their dressing room now and the England coach is giving them the largest hammering and saying it’s completely not ok.”

Josh Tongue was the decide of the 5 English quicks on his first Ashes outing, topping the tempo charts and snapping up the wickets of Khawaja and David Warner both aspect of the lunch break.

The 25-year-old noticed his first three overs smacked for twenty-four however revealed a phrase of recommendation from Ollie Robinson about utilising the well-known Lord’s slope helped him open his account towards Australia.

“I spoke to Robbo simply earlier than lunch about making an attempt to make use of the slope a bit extra,” stated Tongue.

“I used to be making an attempt to wobble it away from the bat and he stated ‘why don’t you try to get the ball coming again into him’. Getting Khawaja simply earlier than lunch was essential after which, clearly, I used to be making an attempt to do the identical to David.

“He’s a really exhausting batter to bowl at. If you happen to miss your size you’re going to the boundary, that’s how I felt, so the wicket got here at an excellent time for the group.”

Invited to fee the Warner dismissal, which skidded between bat and pad and lifted the bails with precision to cap an excellent over, Tongue added: “I haven’t correctly appeared again but, however listening to the lads it was an excellent ball.”

Warner opted to shine a light-weight on Head’s efficiency after the latter hit 14 boundaries to pile the stress on England within the night session.

“Trav is Trav, that’s the way in which he performs,” he stated.

“It’s thrilling and we’re simply fortunate he’s on our group. He can take it away from you. Hanging at over 100 is phenomenal. He simply finds a method.”