Kevin Pietersen torched by England icon over Ashes blow-up: 'Shut up'

Kevin Pietersen has been put in his place by former England teammate Steve Harmison after delivering a stunning rant against Ben Stokes' men on the opening day of the second Test at Lord's. Harmison has told his tough-talking former teammate to "shut up" and believes the tirade from Pietersen towards the current England players was unwarranted.

Pietersen tore strips out of England's slow bowling attack and lacklustre performance in the field, with the home side made to pay for two dropped catches and inconsistent displays with the ball in hand on day one. The England legend also accused England's players of being flat and out-enthused by the Aussies, describing their performance as "shambolic".

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“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.

“I’ve played Ashes cricket, I’ve played nearly 30 Test matches against Australia. The Australians were outside to bat before the English bowlers. The English bowlers this morning should have been on those stairs saying we want to bowl at Australia.

"We’re desperate to bowl at Australia. These two Australian batters are out there waiting for England. They’re the ones that should be in the room saying, ‘No, no, we don’t want to bat,’ and it’s all too easy and it’s all too nice.”

Steve Harmison rips Kevin Pietersen over rant

Former England captain Michael Vaughan also echoed Pietersen's criticism of the England side but Harmison told talkSPORT he thought it was unfair. The former Test quick suggested the comments would not be well received from Ben Stokes' men.

“I don’t think it was justified,” Harmison said. “I think this team has had one or two bad days in 12-13 months.

“I think some of the stuff that they were having a go at them (for)... I think there’s a time and a place. But they’re in the mainstream media, they’re paid to give their opinion, and I’m not going to knock Kevin for having his opinion - he’s always had it.

“He was always forceful with it, it wasn’t always warranted, it wasn’t always best received! I’m sure it wasn’t best received in the England dressing room.

"It certainly wasn’t best received by the England dressing room when we were in it! But a few of us could say to Kevin, in no uncertain terms, shut up. But he’s getting paid to give his opinion.”

Pietersen was a polarising figure in his England playing days and far from a popular figure in the dressing room, as Harmison alluded to. The talented batter was famously found guilty of sharing unflattering text messages to rival players about former England coach Andy Flower and captain Andrew Strauss, whom he described as an idiot.

Cricket greats warn England over 'Bazball' style

After the second day at Lord's in which England let a 1-188 position slip by losing three quick wickets to Australia's short-ball trap, the home side faced more criticism from fellow England greats. David Gower said England needed to be smarter with their 'Bazball' approach. “I’m getting sick of people running down the pitch and missing it when they’re playing well,” Gower said.

Former England captain Nasser Hussain agreed and said the three wickets of Ollie Pope (42 runs), Ben Duckett (98) and Joe Root (10) - all caught playing the hook shot - were low percentage plays. “The pull and the hook shot – when there’s two men out – OK. But when there’s three men out then suddenly the percentages, the risk taking is not in your favour," Hussain said.

England will resume day three on 4/278, with Harry Brook (45) and Stokes (17) at the crease. The home side trails Australia's first innings total of 416 by 138 runs.

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