Kevin Pietersen slams England’s performance against Australia on Day One of the second Ashes Test

Kevin Pietersen has slammed England for their performance on the first day of the second Ashes Test against Australia at Lords.

Ben Stokes won the toss and inserted the Aussies in bowler-friendly conditions on a green pitch as they looked to bounce back from their two wicket defeat in the first Test at Edgbaston last week.

However, they were nowhere near their best with the ball or in the field and David Warner and Usman Khawaja started well, putting on 73 for the first wicket – while Ollie Pope and Joe Root also dropped catches.

Ashes debutant Josh Tongue made the breakthrough as he bowled both openers either side of lunch – with the Worcestershire quick far-and-away England’s fastest and most threatening bowler – while the other seamers struggled for consistency.

And former England star Pietersen was not happy at all with the whole performance during the first two sessions which saw the visitors reach 180-2 at tea.

Kevin Pietersen slammed England after their performance on Day One of the second Test

England toiled in the field against Australia after winning the toss and electing to bowl first

‘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.

‘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.’

Pietersen was particularly angry with England’s attitude.  During the morning session when there was a short rain delay, Stokes’s side had to be summoned out of the changing room by umpires Ahsan Raza and Chris Gaffaney when Australia’s openers were already on the pitch.

The former batter was also unhappy with the lack of hostility England were showing towards their opponents, arguing they were being too friendly. 

He added: ‘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.

The hosts were sloppy and Pietersen questioned their attitude given it was an Ashes Test

He also claimed England were too nice and said Brendon McCullum should be giving them a dressing down for their display at the tea interval

‘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.’