Former England captain Kevin Pietersen was certainly not pleased with the England players’ body language and their friendly chats with the Australian players on Day 1 of the Lord’s Test this week, the second Test of the ongoing Ashes 2023 series.
England captain Ben Stokes won the toss and elected to bowl first, citing overcast conditions and greenery on the Lord’s pitch. Both England and Australia have made one change to their line-ups. England dropped off-spinning all-rounder Moeen Ali for fast bowler Josh Tongue while Australia bring back Mitchell Starc for Scott Boland.
England went with an all-pace attack; electing to bowl first in helpful conditions, however, couldn’t utilize the conditions as Australia dominated the proceedings. Australia lost only one wicket each in the first two sessions and at Tea, Australia were cruising at 190/2 with Steve Smith looking set for another big Ashes knock.
David Warner got off to a rapid start, bringing up his fifty in 66 balls and forged an opening stand of 73 with Usman Khawaja. Both the openers got out on either side of Lunch, before Labuschagne and Smith took over and compiled a brisk century partnership. England were also guilty of spilling a couple of catches, something which haunted them in the loss at Edgbaston.
Kevin Pietersen’s furious rant against England players for friendly chats with Australians
Kevin Pietersen was unhappy with England players not showing aggression, be it in their actions of being relaxed when coming down the balcony after the Aussie batters, or in their friendly chats with the opponents.
‘England have been shambolic. Absolutely shambolic,’ he told Sky Sports at the tea interval. You have overhead conditions, you have a wicket that suits your bowlers and you’ve got bowlers running in at 78, 79, 80mph,’ Pietersen told Sky Sports.
‘It’s one thing swanning around and saying “this is a wonderful team to play in, we’re creating the best environment”. But this isn’t Ashes cricket. I played Ashes cricket. I played 30 Tests against Australia.’
‘The Australians were outside to bat before England’s bowlers. England’s bowlers should’ve been on those stairs this morning saying “we want to bowl at Australia, we’re desperate to bowl at them”. These two batters are waiting for England and that shouldn’t be the case.
‘It’s all too easy, all too nice. Are you telling me Ricky Ponting in 2005 is going to be talking to Geraint Jones?
‘You think Michael Vaughan would be standing next to Justin Langer and saying “what a cool day, it’s overcast it’s beautiful, what an environment here at Lord’s, what do you think of the wicket?”
‘Are you joking? Are you absolutely joking? I just hope they’re in that dressing room now and the England coach is giving them the biggest hammering and saying “this is not good enough”.
‘It’s absolutely not good enough. You cannot bowl out here today (like this) and you cannot have these conditions and you cannot declare for 390.
‘You think Australia are declaring today? You think they’re declaring, getting 390 and then saying go on England, go and have a bat,’ the former England batter said.
VIDEO: Here, check out Kevin Pietersen’s entire rant:
"Are you joking? Are you absolutely JOKING?" 😤
Kevin Pietersen is NOT happy with England today and says it has been 'shambolic' 😳 pic.twitter.com/eTJ50UBTnm
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) June 28, 2023
