The English fans would have certainly anticipated a better batting display from the England side after the position which they were in after the end of the second day’s play. Australia devised a strategy on Day 2 of the second Test of the Ashes 2023 series at Lord’s to stop England’s aggressive “Bazball” style of cricket. With Ollie Pope (42) and Ben Duckett (90) batting, England was cruising at 188/1 in 38 overs during the second session of the day.
With England in control, Australian captain Pat Cummins made the tactical decision to use short balls to attack the batsman. He was successful in taking three wickets in 45 balls. Despite decent batting effort from the English batter fell on the short ball trap laid by English bowlers. Pope (98), Duckett (98), and Root (10) were caught in the deep courtesy of some hostile short ball strategy.
The batting approach from the English batter were not good either as they fell in a quick session after resuming their day at 278/4. Citing this poor batting display the former England captain Michael Vaughan came up with a sarcastic tweet claiming that it was England’s plan to get out early and then bowl when the lights are on and the clouds are around.
Vaughan tweeted,” England clearly want to be bowling when the lights are on and the clouds are around. #Ashes”.
England clearly want to be bowling when the lights are on and the clouds are around .. 😜 #Ashes
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) June 30, 2023
Here is now fans reacted humorously to Vaughan’s sarcastic tweet;
Whatever helps you sleep at night Vaughan 😄
— RKJ (@gumnaam_faaris) June 30, 2023
What's is this Mr @MichaelVaughan …England lost 6 wckts for just 46 runs 🤫 to give a lead of 90 odd runs to @CricketAus …Is this the way to play test match and is this what #Bazball is all about? Nice way to handover #Ashes2023 Urn to Australia 🇦🇺
— PKUMS 🇮🇳 🌏☮️ (@VempatyPavan) June 30, 2023
We have 2 opening bowlers with a combined age of 76, 1 of which has barely bowled in months, no spinner, a captain and 4th seamer on 1 leg, a 3rd seamer whose barely bowled in months, , an inexperienced top order with technical deficiencies, a WK batsman whose been injured 1/2
— John Hodgson (@JohnHodgson1986) June 30, 2023
Yeah otherwise we have seen how effective are England bowlers and Anderson in particular. They are being exposed in their own backyard. The bubble has finally burst, playing against low rank Pakistan and depleted SA gives you a false sense of hope of being a world beater.
— Nilesh Pandit (@nileshp1981) June 30, 2023
Yeah otherwise we have seen how effective are England bowlers and Anderson in particular. They are being exposed in their own backyard. The bubble has finally burst, playing against low rank Pakistan and depleted SA gives you a false sense of hope of being a world beater.
— Nilesh Pandit (@nileshp1981) June 30, 2023
Absolutely awful this morning. Series ending session. You’re now seeing bazball plateau out against world class players.
— OneGoalShort (@GoalShort) June 30, 2023
England 'feel' like they won the session so discussion closed 😆
— Kenny J Perry (@kpe230) June 30, 2023
First take control of the game. #Ashes2023 5-0 loading…😜😜
— Uphoric (@3uphoric) June 30, 2023
The first session of Day 3 saw England fall victim to the short ball trap once more as they could only add 47 runs to their overnight total of 278/4 before being bowled out for 325. Attempting to hit Mitchell Starc over the covers with a short ball, Harry Brook (age 50), instead hit Pat Cummins. Ollie Robinson (9) and Jonny Bairstow (16) both made it out by launching offensive shots. As a result, Australia took 91 runs in the first innings to take the lead.
