Ben Stokes executed the earliest first-innings declaration in Ashes history (Picture: Getty)
Michael Vaughan and Kevin Pietersen disagreed with England’s history-making declaration on the first day of the Ashes series against Australia.
Ben Stokes executed the earliest first-innings declaration in Ashes history after England made 393-8 in 78 overs at Edgbaston.
The hosts were in some trouble when they slipped to 176-5, but Joe Root scored his 30th Test century and Jonny Bairstow hit a run-a-ball 78 to frustrate Australia.
Earlier in the day, Zak Crawley scored 61 from 73 balls after hitting the first delivery of the series to the boundary.
England’s declaration gave Australia’s openers four overs to survive and David Warner and Usman Khawaja did just that to finish on 14-0.
‘I didn’t like the declaration,’ Pietersen told Sky Sports. ‘I was always told to get to 400 in the first innings of a Test match, even 450. Maybe I’m being too critical, I don’t know. We’ll see.
‘I didn’t see it coming. Two or three years ago, there would not even be a hint of a declaration. But you can’t be too surprised with this team.
Usman Khawaja and David Warner survived a tricky period (Picture: Getty)
‘But I’m a little bit surprised because of how flat this pitch is. We saw Australia bat for a few overs and it didn’t miss the middle of the bat.’
Vaughan added on BBC’s Test Match Special: ‘I wouldn’t have declared. You just don’t know what is going to happen.
‘But England are trying to send a message no team has ever done before. I applaud Ben Stokes.
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‘I think this is the first time in my lifetime that England have sent the first punch. But I – as a captain – would’ve wanted a few more runs, especially with Joe Root out there.
‘Even though England didn’t get the wicket, it creates what the Ashes it’s all about. Warner and Khawaja, two experienced pros, were running like kids.’
Australia will look to bat all day tomorrow on a flat pitch and Vaughan would be ‘very surprised’ if ‘one or two’ touring batters do not cash in as Root did.
Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root rescued England (Picture: Getty)
‘That has been one day of Test cricket but it feels like three or four,’ the former England captain added. ‘The game has already moved forward pretty fast.
‘It was a masterclass from Joe Root, who is in my opinion, England’s greatest ever. A brilliant hundred.
‘On the pitch that they’ve seen and the way that England have batted, if one or two of the Australians don’t do what Joe Root did today, I’d be very surprised.’
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‘I didn’t like it.’