Michael Vaughan calls Jonny Bairstow’s England comments ‘pathetic’ as World Cup dreams crumble
Former captain Michael Vaughan has slammed Jonny Bairstow’s claim that people are “waiting for England to fail” at the World Cup, and has turned up the heat on the home team.
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Former captain Michael Vaughan has branded Jonny Bairstow’s claim that people are waiting for England to fail at the World Cup as “negative” and “pathetic”.
England opener Bairstow was responding to criticism from Vaughan and fellow ex-skipper Kevin Pietersen after the hosts suffered consecutive losses against Sri Lanka and Australia.
England is 4-3 with games against new world No.1 India and New Zealand to come with the team that started the World Cup a hot favourite suddenly in danger of missing the semi-finals yet again.
“People were waiting for us to fail,” Bairstow said after back-to-back defeats.
“They are not willing us on to win, in many ways they are waiting for you to get that loss, so they can jump on your throat. It’s a typical English thing to do, in every sport.”
Vaughan slammed Bairstow’s comments, saying the English team had huge backing.
“How wrong can @jbairstow21 be .. Never has England team had so much support but it’s you and your team that has disappointed Jonny,” Vaughan said in an Instagram post.
How wrong can @jbairstow21 be .. Never has England team had so much support but it’s you and your team that has disappointed Jonny .. WIN 2 games and you are in the semis .. With this negative, pathetic mindset I… https://t.co/olrefg6IFP
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) June 28, 2019
Australian coach Justin Langer still thinks England deserves to be favourite to lift the trophy although even assistant Ricky Ponting has questioned their game plan.
“They haven’t made these 400 scores they have been talking about all the time,” Ponting told Cricket Network.
“Tournament play is a lot different to a regular bilateral series where England have come out and scored some huge scores in the past few years.
“Was their game going to stand up under pressure?”
England’s batsmen have started blaming the pitches for their low scores while England’s fielding has also tailed off.
They have spilt 13 catches that have cost 322 with Bairstow (three drops) the main culprit.
Manchester City has also pinched England’s team psychologist, David Young, although he is set to stay on as a consultant.
Bairstow was even sledged by a London taxi driver after Tuesday’s loss to Australia.
“I chuckled,” he said.
“Of course people are going to say things. Of course they are. Everyone’s saying like it’s as if we’re eighth or ninth in the table. Bloody Nora — chill out guys. You’re panicking.”
Injury concerns to four players have left the hosts battered, although they could all play against India on Sunday.
Roy (hamstring) is likely to return after missing three games while Adil Rashid (shoulder), Jofra Archer (side) and Ben Stokes (calf cramp) should all get up.
with AAP
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