Michael Vaughan, Harry Brook
Michael Vaughan (Image Credit: Twitter)

Former England captain Michael Vaughan feels that England head coach Chris Silverwood was equally at fault for not asking his team to change the bizarre tactics that were employed by Joe Root and co. on Day 5 of the Lord’s Test.

England pacers went full-blooded on bouncers to rattle Indian tail-enders Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Shami. Unfortunately, it didn’t work and the duo managed to put a match-turning unbeaten partnership of 89 which was enough to suck the life out of the hosts.

Once the team realized that the short-ball tactic wasn’t working, Silverwood should have intervened and asked them to go back to what had worked for them so far, as per Vaughan.

England Coach Chris Silverwood
England Coach Chris Silverwood (Image Credit: Twitter)

The nadir came in that hour and 20 minutes before lunch on the fifth day of the second Test, which must rank among the worst stuff I’ve seen from an England Test team in years.

Why was Silverwood not sending someone out onto the pitch with a drink, asking Root what the hell was going on and getting him to change tactics? I know that is what Duncan Fletcher would have done with me had I suffered a brain-fade on the field,” Vaughan questioned.

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The previous time India toured England, they lost all the crucial moments in the game which led to a 1-4 loss in the series. This time it was England’s turn to mess it up and Vaughan feels the head coach has to be blamed for that.

James Anderson and Joe Root
James Anderson and Joe Root (Image Credit: Twitter)

Every Test match essentially boils down to a handful of moments which dictate the outcome: the best teams rise to them and find a way to win them. This was the big moment in the second Test and England blew it, and Silverwood has to take his share of responsibility for that,” he pointed out.

“At the moment, the series is going only one way” – Michael Vaughan

After the devastating loss in the second Test, England was left licking their wounds while the visitors basked in glory at the ‘Home of Cricket’. If nothing changes going forward, Team India will pocked the series comfortably, as per Michael Vaughan.

India National Cricket Team
India National Cricket Team (Image Credit: Twitter)

He (Chris Silverwood) has to show that he is capable of changing England’s momentum in this series because at the moment it is only going one way and that is in the direction of Virat Kohli, who has his hosts right where he wants them – hot under the collar, not thinking straight and making silly mistakes,” Vaughan concluded.

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The third Test at Headingley might well decide if England can stand toe-to-toe with their opponents going into the rest of the series.

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