Vaughan criticised for role in Ashes interview debacle
Former England captain Michael Vaughan has been criticised for defending James Anderson from a series of hard-hitting questions from Geoffrey Boycott.
In a tense post-match interview at the SCG, Boycott was infuriated with the effort of the England team, and made his feelings known to vice-captain Anderson on the BT Sport panel.
However he didn't expect his co-panelist, Vaughan, to make the interview so tough for him.
Boycott started off his enquiries by demanding Anderson to tell him who was going to plan the England rebuild after their embarrassing 4-0 Ashes defeat to Australia.
The question was in relation to England assistant coach Paul Farbrace’s comment that the team had begun planning for the 2019 Ashes.
“Who’s going to do the planning?” Boycott said.
“You ought to have been planning for this one two years ago ... We have 18 chairmen and none of them are cricketers.”
However before the England quick could attempt a response, his former teammate went in to bat for him.
“He’s in a grumpy mood, Jimmy," Vaughan said of Boycott.
“Yeah, it sounds like it. I think that’s a question for someone above my pay grade," Anderson then responded.
Despite being thoroughly dismissed on that occasion, Boycott went in again, hoping for more information out of Anderson, asking what the comments mean.
Once again, Vaughan poured cold water on the question, while Anderson appeared completely uncomfortable.
“Well, the director of cricket, Andrew Strauss and all the management,” he said. “They’ll learn from this experience I'm sure.”
Boycott was clearly unimpressed with the frosty reaction to his questions.
"They haven't done a very good job," he immediately replied.
Now Vaughan has come under fire for actions on the panel, especially on Twitter where was accused of being a bad journalist for not allowing valid questions to be answered by a senior member of the team.
Not many ex-sportsmen make journalists. @MichaelVaughan was hilarious wishing Boycott HADN'T asked the question #welldoneBoycott
— Neil Bonnar (@NeilBonnarBN) January 9, 2018
Jimmy A is the Vice Captain .. Has no say in any planning .. It was a good question to the wrong person .. That’s why I laughed as Jimmy can’t answer that ? ..... https://t.co/XzHY1ZYQXo
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) January 9, 2018
You should have respected Boycott's question rather than dismissed it. It was what the public wanted to discuss
— Neil Bonnar (@NeilBonnarBN) January 9, 2018
Rubbish ... Jimmy A was not there to answer questions that ultimately he didn’t know the answers ... He is the Vc FFs ... https://t.co/giior5x5UA
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) January 10, 2018
Everyone involved is there to answer the questions that are in the public interest. Boycott asked an excellent question. You dismissed it, it seemed to stay onside with Anderson. Poor approach by you and Atherton towards Boycott.
— Neil Bonnar (@NeilBonnarBN) January 10, 2018
Boycs question was perfectly valid, Jimmy's answer "above my pay grade" also valid. Jimmy's a big boy, probably called Boycs a few names when back in the dressing room, but hey-ho... moving on.
— Tim Caldicott (@TC_1963) January 10, 2018
Jimmy A is a big boy though, someone with his experience is more than capable of fending off a few choice questions without you stepping in.
Boycott only saying what all the supporting / paying public want answers to.
Be nice if a few more pundits called Strauss & Co out.— Wesley Young (@WesleyYoung9) January 10, 2018
Boycott eventually stormed off the BT Sport panel, dropping his mic and saying "I've had enough of this".
Boycott: "Who the hell's going to do the planning?"
Anderson: "That's a question for someone above my pay grade"
Boycott: "Well they haven't done a very good job"
This is well worth your time, the moment @GeoffreyBoycott questioned Jimmy Anderson 🙈#ItsTheAshes #Ashes pic.twitter.com/WNAc2QIMRQ— Cricket on BT Sport (@btsportcricket) January 8, 2018