Former England captain Michael Vaughan was heavily critical of Ollie Pope and Co. after the hosts’ defeat to Sri Lanka at the Oval, which proved to be a blot on an otherwise flawless Test summer. England were bowled out for a paltry 156 and despite conceding a 62-run lead, Sri Lanka chased down 219 runs in a professional and rather comfortable manner to not only stay in contention for a place in the WTC final but also avoid a series whitewash.
Vaughan felt England had become complacent and almost arrogant even after winning five Tests in a row in the current summer, three against the West Indies and two against Sri Lanka. “I felt they disrespected Test cricket, and they disrespected Sri Lanka in the third Test by being too aggressive both with the bat and in their fielding positions,” Vaughan wrote in his column for the 2018/19 season. The telegraph.
“England have become accustomed to becoming a bit complacent after a good period; I think back to the start of The ashesor earlier this year in Rajkot, and I hope it serves as a wake-up call for the tougher Tests that await us in 2025. There is no way they will get away with playing like this against India or Australia.”
England have three Test matches to play against Pakistan and three away against New Zealand, but five-match assignments against India at home and Australia away would test Brendon McCullum’s side to their limits.
“This week there was a lack of intensity and focus at the important moments. It was all a bit flimsy, even arrogant. They made a mockery of the game. The answer in the most heated moments of Test cricket cannot always be attack, attack, attack,” Vaughan added.
The match changed from the moment England suffered a middle-order collapse in the first innings, going from 261/3 to 325 all out. England survived such setbacks in previous matches in the summer, but not this time. Even though Sri Lanka were bowled out for 263, the deficit was not that great and their bowling performance in the second innings, combined with poor shot selection and poor approach from England, was ultimately the deciding factor in the visitors recording only their fourth Test win in the country.
“I encourage England to never lose the love of winning. Sitting in the dressing room after a Test win, whether it’s the Ashes away from home or against a mediocre West Indies or Sri Lanka team, who aren’t as strong as they used to be, in your own backyard, is a very special feeling. You should be desperate for it every week as a Test cricketer,” Vaughan added.
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