Eng batting ‘appalling’: Vaughan

Former England captain Michael Vaughan blasted the current side’s “appalling” batting in the ongoing second Test against South Africa at Trent Bridge, saying they need to show more respect for five-day cricket.

England lost seven wickets for 62 runs as they slumped to 205 all out on Saturday’s second day in reply to South Africa’s first innings 335.

The hosts’ collapse left the Proteas with a huge advantage of 130 runs as they looked to level the four-match series at 1-1 after a 211-run defeat in the first Test at Lord’s last week.

Only captain Joe Root (78) and Yorkshire colleague Jonny

The England batting has been appalling. Maybe it’s a lack of respect about what the game is. They look like they are playing a Twenty20 game. M VAUGHAN, ex England captain

Bairstow (45) made scores of note, with all-rounder Ben Stokes out for a duck.

“The England batting has been appalling,” Ashes-winning skipper Vaughan said while commentating on BBC Radio’s Test Match Special. “Maybe it’s a lack of respect about what the game is.”

Vaughan, one of the outstanding batsmen of his generation, added: “They look like they are playing a Twenty20 game.

“I look at the approach -- yes, the ball has done a little bit but it’s not been drastic.

“They have this approach of attack, attack, attack. There is no thought or feeling of seeing off a bowler or wearing a team down.”

England’s lack of top order Test runs has been a worry for some time and Vaughan said batsmen needed to master the art of occupying the crease.

“The (batsmen) don’t trust their techniques to stay in long enough,” he explained.

“That’s a concern. England regularly collapse. It’s always when the ball does a little bit. Look at the way South Africa played. A lot of England’s players look like they are premeditating their shots. The best way is to watch the ball and react.”