Former England captains Michael Vaughan and Kevin Pietersen has called Ben Stokes declaration call on Day 1 “outrageous” on with centurion Joe Root still at the crease.
England stayed true to its ‘Bazball’ approach on Friday and underlined its confidence by daring to declare at 393-8 after Root’s 30th Test century on a rousing opening day at Edgbaston.
“I wouldn’t have declared,” former England captain Michael Vaughan said on BBC Test Match Special.
“You just don’t know what is going to happen. England are trying to send a message no team has ever done before.
“I, as a captain, would’ve wanted a few more runs, especially with Joe Root out there.
“Even though England didn’t get the wicket, it creates what the Ashes is all about — Warner and Khawaja, two experienced pros, were running like kids.”
Kevin Pietersen too was skeptical of Ben Stokes’s decision. He said on Sky Sports: “”I don’t think that’s the nature of his captaincy (in and out fields from Stokes). It’s difficult to answer because we did not see much in it this evening.”
