Cricket world reacts to ‘utter nonsense’ in ‘farcical’ Ashes scenes

The cricket world has heaped scorn on England, accusing the Poms of pure “stupidity” as the Second Ashes Test erupted in controversy.

Australia's Mitchell Starc celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of England's Harry Brook on day three. (Photo by Ian Kington / AFP)

The cricket world has heaped scorn on the England cricket team after a dismal day at Lord’s saw the hosts hand full ascendancy in the Second Test to Australia.

The Aussies will begin day four with a 221-run lead and eight wickets in the bank after a dominant day in London that included some seriously impressive efforts by the Aussie bowlers and batters – but also some bizarre moments from the Poms.

Almost halfway to Australia’s first innings score with just one wicket down, England imploded to be all out for 325 and trail by 91 runs.

England’s top four were accused of throwing away their wickets on day two and there were more questionable shots from Harry Brook, Jonny Bairstow and Ollie Robinson that cost the Poms dearly.

Brook continued his haphazard approach to short-pitched bowling by popping up a cross-bat shot to cover, Bairstow miscued an attempted lofted shot straight to mid-on and Robinson was caught brilliantly by Alex Carey while attempting to charge Travis Head.

All three fell attempting to attack in a period where the traditional approach would have been to try to survive until conditions were easier.

“Love how England have played in the last 12 months. But seriously, this is farcical batting,” tweeted BBC reporter Henry Moeran.

You won’t find this shot in a cricket textbook. England's Harry Brook is caught out by Australia's Pat Cummins (not seen) off a Mitchell Starc short ball. (Photo by Ian Kington / AFP)

Brook came in for the harshest criticism after becoming one of Mitchell Starc’s three victims.

“On the one hand, Harry Brook made 50, but on the other hand, that is a f**king stupid way to get out when you’re still 120 behind in the first innings of a Test match,” Brydon Coverdale tweeted.

“England clearly like losing,” former England captain Michael Vaughan said on the BBC. “Seeing a player play a shot like that, it’s just not good enough at this level.”

You might’ve not let me back in the changerooms if I had’ve gotten out like that 😅

— Glenn Maxwell (@Gmaxi_32) June 30, 2023

Vaughan doubled down when Bairstow spooned a catch to Pat Cummins off the bowling of Josh Hazlewood.

“This is stupid cricket from England. I fear they have forgotten the art of soaking up periods of the game that aren’t easy,” he wrote.

“Test cricket is a test and in that test sometimes you have to soak up pressure. They have gifted wickets to Australia, who are without their off spinner.”

Jonny Bairstow trudges off after another soft dismissal. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Ollie Robinson charges Travis Head but nicks off to Alex Carey. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Australia responded brilliantly to a disappointing day two when it lost Nathan Lyon for the match and only took wickets that were gifted by the opposition.

But a side-effect of England’s Bazball approach – at least against Australia – is regularly inviting the opposition back into the match.

“Ben Duckett said something last night that alarmed me,” Vaughan said. “He said ‘if we hadn’t taken it on, Australia will feel they’ve won the battle’. What utter nonsense! It’s Test match cricket.”

Other negative impacts include how much time England – because of its fast-scoring rates – gives the opposition to win the match. And the reduced time its bowling unit gets to rest.

England are yet to bat for 80 overs in an innings this series; Aust have done so every time #Ashes

— Daniel Brettig 🏏 (@danbrettig) June 30, 2023

And it was another frustrating start for the England pace attack in Australia’s second innings as David Warner and Usman Khawaja soaked up pressure and protected their middle order from a testing period.

The duo combined for another 50-run plus opening stand as Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad again went wicketless in their opening spells.

James Anderson - percentage of deliveries in England with a 'large' amount of deviation (more than 0.75°)

2021 - 40%
2022 - 43%
2023 - 23%#EngvAus#Ashes2023

— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) June 30, 2023

To be fair, all of England’s bowlers - including Josh Tongue and Ollie Robinson - asked constant questions of the Aussie top order.

And the way this match – and this series – has twisted and turned so far there’s still a chance England runs through Australia on day four and pulls off a stunning chase.

But the willingness of Warner to bat at speeds much slower than the norm, Khawaja to lock himself in a bubble and ignore his surroundings and Steven Smith to protect his wicket means the Aussies are the more likely winner.

Khawaja is 58 not out and has already scored more runs in this series (281) than Australia’s openers combined for during the 2019 series (197).

Reaching stumps for the loss of just Warner and Marnus Labuschagne’s wickets – Smith is six not out – means there’s a better chance of protecting the tail from what’s been a dangerous session for batting each morning.

And then it will be down to the Aussie bowlers to take 10 wickets without Lyon.

Mitchell Starc’s uncanny ability to keep breaking through and the guile of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood should be enough.

And don’t forget Travis Head, whose last 251 balls in Test cricket have delivered nine wickets at an average of 15.