England slammed for ‘disrespecting’ Sri Lanka and ‘taking the mickey out of’ cricket after throwing away third Test
MICHAEL VAUGHAN has accused “cocky” England of disrespecting Test cricket.
The former captain claimed Ollie Pope’s team took “the mickey out of the game” at The Oval following yesterday’s “pathetic” Third Test defeat to Sri Lanka.
Vaughan slammed England’s ultra-aggressive Bazball approach as they were thrashed by eight wickets.
It meant England blew a 6-0 summer clean sweep — a first since 2004 when Vaughan was skipper.
Vaughan, 49, blasted: “They disrespected Test cricket and disrespected Sri Lanka by being over-aggressive with the bat and their field placings.
“England have made a habit of becoming complacent after a good period and I hope it serves as a wake-up call. It was all a bit flimsy, cocky even.
“They took the mickey out of the game. The answer in Test cricket’s hottest moments cannot always be attack, attack, attack.”
England were 261-3 in their first innings, only to be dismissed for 325.
Then they reduced Sri Lanka to 91-5 but allowed the tourists to recover to 263 before England were bowled out for 156 in 34 overs.
Pathum Nissanka swept Sri Lanka to victory with a brilliant 127 not out.
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
Stand-in England skipper Ollie Pope rejected claims they were complacent but admitted “we shot ourselves in the foot” with their poor batting on Sunday.
England still won the series 2-1 following their 3-0 triumph over West Indies.
Pope is expecting to hand back the leadership to Ben Stokes for their next Test in Pakistan on October 7.
Writing in the Telegraph, Vaughan added: “To be bowled out in 34 overs was nothing short of pathetic.”