Let Pietersen go on attack, says Vaughan
FORMER England captain Michael Vaughan has urged star batsman Kevin Pietersen to stick to his attacking instincts ahead of tomorrow’s second Ashes Test at Lord’s.
Flamboyant Pietersen was criticised for two poor dismissals in the first Test at Cardiff, prompting calls for him to adopt a more conservative approach.
In particular, the Hampshire ace was berated for his pre-meditated sweep to Aussie spinner Nathan Hauritz in the first innings, which saw him dismissed for 69 when well set.
But Vaughan, who captained the side to Ashes success on home soil in 2005, says Pietersen should be allowed to play the only way he knows, and has backed the South African-born batsman to take his frustration out on the Aussie spin attack in true fashion at Lord’s this week.
“What we expect from Kevin is for him to play to his maximum ability,” said Vaughan, who announced his retirement from the game last month. “He got out playing a shot he’d played before and knocked for one, but what I’d have liked to see was Kevin taking on Hauritz down the ground a few more times and hitting him for six. I’ve seen him do it to Shane Warne and to Murali, so I’d like him to attack a little bit more. He is an attacking player; I don’t buy the thought that he’s a guy who should bat for time.
“As captain I always felt if Kevin could bat for three hours he could take the game away from the opposition. I want to see him continue in a positive vein because that’s the kind of player he is.”
Meanwhile, Vaughan expects England to employ an extra seamer for the Lord’s Test – regardless of whether all-rounder Andrew Flintoff is fit to play.
“Steve Harmison has been picked as a like-for-like replacement for Flintoff if he is not fit and Graham Onions will play for one of the spinners,” Vaughan added.