England legend Kevin Pietersen has branded their performance in the second Ashes Test "absolutely shambolic" and urged coach Brendon McCullum to give the players the "biggest hammering" during the tea break.
After winning the toss and opting to field first in helpful bowling conditions, England failed to make any early breakthroughs as David Warner and Usman Khawaja put on an opening partnership worth 77 before Josh Tongue bowled Khawaja on the stroke of lunch. And Pietersen has brutally laid into England for their performance in the field, criticising their lack of urgency and decision-making.
"From an English perspective it's been shambolic, absolutely shambolic," Pietersen told Sky Sports. "You have overhead conditions, you have a wicket that suits your bowlers and you've got bowlers running in at 78, 79, 80mph.
