'This is The Ashes and not an exhibition game!' - Kevin Pietersen's message to England bowlers ahead of Day 2 of Lord's Test

Former cricketer Kevin Pietersen has called upon England to rise tall and seize the initiative against Australia on the Day 2 of the ongoing second Ashes Test at Lord's, following a disappointing performance by the home team on the initial day.

This comes a day after Pietersen criticized the team harshly, calling their performance and strategy "shambolic." He asked the team to stop being so polite to Australians and get the final five wickets as soon as possible.

In his tweet, Pietersen expressed:

"Come on, @englandcricket! Stand tall today and take it to the Australians. Stop being so nice and get some mongrel in you! Take those 5 wickets quickly and bat well! This is The Ashes and not an exhibition game!"

Come on, @englandcricket !
Stand tall today and take it to the Australians. Stop being so nice and get some mongrel in you! Take those 5 wickets quick and bat well!
This is The Ashes and not an exhibition game! 👊🏽

— Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) June 29, 2023

It is noteworthy that during the Tea break on Day 1 of the Lord's Test, Pietersen chastised England for being too complacent and amicable, lacking the urgency to aggressively challenge the Australian batters.

"You know, the Australian batters were raring to bat before the English bowlers. The English bowlers this morning should have been ready, exclaiming, 'We fervently aspire to dismiss Australia.' Those two Australian batsmen were there, waiting for England. They are the ones who should have been inside the room, saying, 'No, no! Hold on, we don't want to bat.' It's all too effortless and friendly," Pietersen had said earlier. 

The former England skipper also expressed his desire for head coach Brendon McCullum to severely reprimand the team for their lackluster performance in the field for the initial two sessions.

England finds themselves in a precarious position after Day 1 of the Lord's Ashes Test. Opting to field first under overcast conditions, they were hoping to make early breakthroughs. However, their endeavors went in vain, as Usman Khawaja his his ground while David Warner effortlessly notched up a half-century.

Subsequently, Steven Smith took the spotlight, showcasing his batting prowess from the very beginning. He formed vital partnerships, first with Marnus Labuschagne and later with Travis Head. Although Joe Root managed to claim a couple of quick wickets towards the end of the day, Australia concluded the opening day at 339/5.

Day 1 culminated with Australia in control, yet Joe Root's late double-strike instilled hope in England. The English bowlers face an arduous task as they must devise a strategic plan to surpass Smith's brilliance and wrap up the lower order. Presently, Australia lead the five-match Ashes series 1-0.