Former England captain Michael Vaughan has laid into Jonny Bairstow after his dismissal in the second innings of the first Test against New Zealand.
With England chasing 277 to win the match, they were in trouble when Bairstow joined Joe Root at the crease at 46-3. And the 32-year-old looked to take the attack to New Zealand, striking 14 runs off one Trent Boult over.
He smashed the left-arm quick for three boundaries, before falling to Kyle Jamieson the following over. After almost nicking the ball before, Bairstow went for another booming drive and got bowled through the gate for 16 to leave England 69-4.
And Vaughan blasted Bairstow for his shot selection while on commentary for BBC Test Match Special. He said: "I am sorry but that is dumb.
"That is pathetic. You know it is going to be Jamieson's last ball of a terrific spell.
"There was a bit of nip. It is an OK delivery. But when you are throwing your hands at a ball with a gap between bat and pad that you and I could swim through...
"You can have all the preparation and team meetings but until you play smart... See him off. Get rid of him. Play a defensive shot. It is just dumb."
In the first innings of this Test, Bairstow was also out bowled when he chopped on a delivery from Boult. And that has been a common theme of Bairstow's Test career.
In total, 26% of Bairstow's dismissals in Test cricket have been bowled. And in the history of Test cricket, only two other players to have batted as often as Bairstow - West Indies quick Courtney Walsh and India batter Gundappa Viswanath - have a higher percentage.
