‘Why didn’t Chris Silverwood ask Joe Root ‘what the hell is going on’’ – Michael Vaughan bashes England’s bouncer barrage ploy at Lord's

Former England batter and Ashes winning-captain Michael Vaughan has raised questions over England’s approach in the second Test against India at Lord’s, which the latter won by a whopping 151 runs to take a crucial 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

Vaughan slammed head coach Chris Silverwood for not trying to stop Joe Root who allowed his bowlers to deliver one short ball after another against the Indian tail, which added decisive runs and took the game out of England’s reach.

India’s record 89-run ninth-wicket partnership between Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah, who scored 56 and 34 respectively, led the team to post 298/9, setting up for England the unlikeliest of targets on a track that was increasingly deteriorating. While attempting the chase never seemed to be on England’s mind, not least because they lost both openers for ducks within moments of their response, their entire batting unit fell like nine pins as they endured their nth collapse to concede the game.

Chris Silverwood needs to show that he can change the momentum of the series: Michael Vaughan

“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. Plenty has been written and said about how England lost the plot in attempting to bounce out Jasprit Bumrah, and Joe Root was undeniably let down by some of his senior players who should have intervened with him sooner, but I also wanted to see something from the coach,” Michael Vaughan wrote on his Facebook page.

“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.

“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 added.

England are 0-1 behind with three games to go, Vaughan expects Silverwood to show he is capable of changing the momentum of the series.

“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,” Michael Vaughan added.

The third Test gets underway from August 25 at Headingley.