Former England skipper Michael Vaughan has questioned the team’s over-aggressive batting and fielding approach after they succumbed to a heavy defeat in the third Test against Sri Lanka at the Kia Oval.
Despite winning the series, England lost the chance for a clean sweep as Sri Lanka beat them comprehensively in the third Test. England were 221-3 on day one but were bundled out for 325, as the usual aggressive approach misfired.
The visitors in response made 263. In the second innings, England were skittled out for 156, meaning the tourists had to chase 219, and they did it comfortably with eight wickets remaining. Pathum Nissanka starred with a 124-ball 127.
Vaughan lambasted England for the loss in his column for The Telegraph, claiming "they have made a habit of becoming a bit complacent after a good period."
"I felt that they disrespected Test cricket, and disrespected Sri Lanka in the third Test by being over-aggressive with both the bat and in their field placings. England have made a habit of becoming a bit complacent after a good period – I think of the start of the Ashes, or earlier this year in Rajkot – and I hope it serves as a wake-up call for the tougher Tests that lie in wait in 2025. There is no way they will get away with playing like this against India or Australia, " Vaughan wrote.
He added: "For me, the intensity and concentration in the big moments were missing this week. 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 are looking increasingly well placed to consistently take 20 wickets per Test in overseas conditions, but their batting line-up continues to lack a ruthlessness to make the most of dominant positions.”
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) September 9, 2024
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Vaughan: Over-aggressive fields did the England bowlers a disservice
Vaughan also pointed out the tactical blunders England committed as a fielding unit, opining the field placements were "over-aggressive".
"I felt England’s bowling was fine this week, but I thought the over-aggressive fields they went for did the bowlers a disservice, and put them on the back foot immediately. They went out with an idea to be super-aggressive, but this wasn’t the match or pitch for that," Vaughan stated.
"This was a top-of-off pitch, two or three slips and a gully, with extra cover in. They had six slips, short leg, leg slip. It was almost as if they had 650 on the board, but they had half of that.
"To make matters worse, The Oval has a rapid outfield and the new ball has not been doing as much lately. You are almost sitting in, waiting for the lacquer to come off and then it swings round corners after 15 or 20 overs. The fields meant that Sri Lanka got off to a flying start, which bowlers hate. It means they lose confidence and start chasing. It just did not look right and was too easy for Sri Lanka. "
The 2-1 series result went in England’s favour, however, the loss at The Kia Oval dented their chances of making it to the World Test Championship final. On the other hand, Sri Lanka climbed two places to fifth on the points table, replacing England, who dropped to sixth.
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