England’s under-fire cricketers are copping further criticism in what former captain Michael Vaughan labelled an “amateurish” decision to skip a practice match before the second Ashes Test.
With a 12-day break before the Gabba return bout with the Aussies after their Perth capitulation inside two days, England have a clash with the Prime Minister’s XI this Saturday.
But even though several of their batters are desperately in need of time in the middle, England have stuck to their original plans of taking a few days break mid-tour for some ill-deserved rest and relaxation on the Sunshine Coast.
Vaughan warned England face a severe fan backlash if they go 2-0 down in Brisbane.
“England fans love this team, but if I was in the XI I’d be fearful the supporters will turn because the side keeps on making the same mistakes,” he wrote in The Telegraph.
“We can’t be that surprised that they got rolled twice in Perth. Under Stokes, England have been bowled out nine times in fewer than 40 overs and 12 times in fewer than 50.
“It’s a long-running habit.”
Three players unused in Perth for the series opener, Jacob Bethell, Josh Tongue and Matthew Potts, will join the England Lions team for the clash with the PM’s XI, which will be a day-nighter with a pink ball.
But the likes of Zak Crawley, Joe Root and Ollie Pope are not taking up the opportunity to have a bat before Brisbane despite failing in Perth.
Wicketkeeper Jamie Smith has never played a pink-ball first-class fixture.
Crawley, in particular, should be champing at the bit for a hit after falling twice to Mitchell Starc for a pair within the first over of each innings while Root registered a duck and eight in yet another underwhelming performance Down Under.
“That staggers me. I’m sorry, but it’s amateurish,” Vaughan wrote.
“You have 11 days between Tests, are 1-0 down in the Ashes, and have the opportunity to get accustomed to a pink ball they do not play with much, and with which Mitchell Starc is an absolute wizard.
“They are an international cricket team. They are cricketers. I can’t get my head around why they all wouldn’t want to just play. What is the downside?
“I worry that they are fearful to ask the captain and coach for some game time, because that’s not their method. If they wouldn’t let them, I’d be on Skyscanner booking my own flights to Canberra.”
The arrogance of the Bazball camp is starting to wear thin with the English media.
“Even when taking a decision incomprehensible to those outside the Bazball bubble, they feel no need to explain themselves to anyone,” Telegraph chief sports writer Oliver Brown wrote about their mystifying decision to prioritise holidays over practice.
“Impregnable self-belief is not, in itself, a weakness in sport. If harnessed correctly, it can be priceless psychological armour.
“The problem is that England have no substantive reasons for their refusal to adapt.
“There are urgent questions that need to be asked about England’s half-cocked build-up to this series.
“Why did India spend eight days last year training at the WACA, if not to harden themselves for the Perth experience? Whether in Perth or Brisbane, the Bazball approach remains broadly the same: never mind the evidence, feel the energy.”
Mike Atherton surprisingly backed Brendon McCullum’s decision to allow his players to put their feet up.
“While Crawley, and others, would possibly benefit from the confidence gained from scoring runs in a competitive fixture, there are good reasons why McCullum has chosen to stick with the plan of flying straight to Brisbane,” the former England skipper wrote in The Times.
“Manuka Oval in Canberra can be a very slow, low pitch and totally different from the Gabba, which is among the quickest and bounciest in the country.
“England’s warm-up fixture for their opening tour match against the Lions at Lilac Hill was played on a much slower pitch than the Test match at Optus Stadium, and the batsmen looked ill prepared for the extra bounce.
“By looking to appease the critics, England would have been making the same mistake again. England have booked extra net sessions at the Gabba from Saturday, including under lights, and should benefit from that.”
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