England turns on Ben Stokes and 'Bazball' amid 'woeful' Ashes backlash

England cricket fans have torn strips out of the 'Bazball' hype after a chastening opening day of the second Ashes Test for Ben Stokes' home side. England failed to cash in after winning the toss on an overcast morning at Lord's and sending Australia in to bat, with the visitors finishing up at stumps on an imposing 5-339.

Steve Smith will resume day two on 85 after becoming the second-fastest player ever to reach 9,000 Test runs, while Travis Head (77 runs off 73 balls) and David Warner (66 off 88) also added half centuries to put the Aussies in control. While much has been made of how entertaining England's Bazball approach is, and how it has revolutionised Test cricket, the stark reality is that it still requires a performance in the field to make it work.

'HAVE A DIG': Aussie icon's savage takedown of Ashes villain

HOW GOOD: Steve Smith smashes cricket records in Ashes masterclass

CLASSIC: Ricky Ponting's crack at Bairstow as Ashes protest sparks frenzy

In that regard, England fell a long way short on day one. The hosts will be no doubt be kicking themselves after letting two catching chances slip, while also failing to make the most of the favourable bowling conditions at Lord's.

Joe Root was the first culprit after dropping Usman Khawaja in a tough chance at first slip, when the Aussie batter was on one. Khawaja only went on to make 16 more runs but Ollie Pope's missed chance to remove Warner for 20, proved far more costly.

Pope should have taken a regulation slips catch when Stuart Broad caught Warner's edge but the England man spilled the chance to leave his bowler fuming. England's decision to bowl first was soon looking questionable as the Aussies put on a 73-run opening stand to lay a solid foundation.

Kevin Pietersen slams England side

England great Kevin Pietersen delivered one of his first big sprays of the day after an opening nine overs where only four deliveries would have hit the stumps. Veteran quick James Anderson was swinging the ball around dangerously but like many of the England bowlers, his line and length was not good enough and allowed the Aussie batters to navigate a tricky period.

“I think for (England bowling coach) David Saker and the team management, they’d probably be saying that’s not good enough,” Pietersen said on Sky Sports commentary. More balls need to hit the stumps. It’s not a top of off wicket this. It’s full, halfway up the stumps. Get more balls hitting the stumps, England.”

Pietersen's fury was exacerbated later in the day when England did finally get the key wickets of Khawaja and Warner, only to let Smith, Marnus Labushagne (47 runs) and then Head settle into their rhythm. “Not a lot has caught my eye from an English perspective... It’s been shambolic. Absolutely Shambolic,” Pietersen said on Sky Sports.

“You have overhead conditions, you have a wicket that suits your bowlers, you have bowlers running in at 78, 79 mile an hour. It’s one thing walking here, swanning around saying, ‘Hey, this is a wonderful team to play in, we’re creating the best environment.’ But this isn’t Ashes cricket."

Pietersen's gripe largely centred on images of Smith and Marnus Labuschagne coming out to bat after tea before England's players were even close to taking the field. He said it highlighted a positive attitude from the visitors than was distinctly lacking from Stokes' men.

Fans turn on England amid 'Bazball' hype

When the dust finally settled on day one - with an unbeaten Smith just 15 runs shy of his 32nd Test ton - fans were quick to turn on England and a Bazball philosophy so brutally exposed by the home side's poor display with the ball.

with agencies

Sign up to our newsletter and score the biggest sport stories of the week.