Mark Taylor has taken aim at Australia and England for consistently bowling short on day four of the second Ashes Test at Lord’s, labelling the tactic monotonous.
Amid an apparent lack of seam or swing movement, England bowled primarily short to Australia’s batters throughout the opening session of the day.
It worked, with Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith both falling victim just before the stroke of lunch.
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Several more Australian batters fell to shorter deliveries. Cameron Green holed out in the deep pulling while Alex Carey gloved one to short leg.
In the first innings, England succumbed to the short ball too. In that instance, the batters copped criticism for falling foul to the tactic when they were in control of the Test.
The lion’s share of the wickets taken by Australia in the second innings, thus far, were fuller deliveries. However, as the shine came off the ball, their attention turned to short deliveries.
It was all “too much” for Taylor.
“I really hope that the umpires or the match referee have a word to both sides,” said Taylor on Nine’s Sports Sunday.
AS IT HAPPENED: The Ashes day four live
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“I don’t want to pick on England or Australia here, but I think when there is 98 percent of balls bowled short in the session, that’s too much for me.
“Particularly when there’s three men from just in front of square right round to fine leg or third man on each side. So six fielders in there.
All Wickets from England vs Australia on Day 4 of the 2nd Test
“The reward you get for taking on the short ball doesn’t equal the risk that goes with it. So you end up with a stalemate and that’s what happened today.
“A lot of short-pitched bowling, a lot of ducking and weaving, batsmen wearing one, pull shots all the time.
“It became very boring and monotonous and the crowd certainly didn’t enjoy it and I don’t think many people who watched it would have enjoyed it.”
The second Test is delicately poised heading into the final day with England needing 257 runs to win with six wickets in hand.
Ben Duckett has 50 runs to his name while Ben Stokes is also not out on 29.
Taylor hailed Australia’s bowling efforts with the new ball after dismissing Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, and Harry Brook cheaply.
“The Aussies were terrific,” he said.
Starc destroys Pope’s stumps
“Firstly Mitchell Starc; that in-swinger he bowled to Ollie Pope which knocked him over, they are nigh on unplayable.
“That was a terrific delivery, swung back, came back down the hill. Ollie Pope didn’t do a lot wrong, lost his middle stump, so that got Australia going.
“Then when Pat Cummins got Joe Root, that short ball – we all know Joe Root is the spine of this England batting – to get him like that was a terrific delivery and got Australia well in front in the game, and at 4-40 you thought it might have been over now, but they hung in as always.”
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