Broad reveals he had clear-the-air call with Vaughan

England bowler grabs three wickets as Root’s side dominate opening day

ENGLAND V PAKISTAN

Stuart Broad admits he was angered by his former captain Michael Vaughan’s criticism before the second NatWest Test – and so had to ring him to clear the air .

Vaughan suggested in both his Daily Telegraph column and BBC radio programme that England should consider dropping either Broad or his record-breaking pace partner James Anderson at Headingley.

On day one of a Test England must win to avoid series defeat, they both took three wickets –– as did Chris Woakes – to bowl Pakistan out for 174.

After England had then closed on 106 for two, Broad confirmed he had taken Vaughan to task.

“You get used to both positive and negative opinions, but sometimes I don’t think it is justified,” he said.

“This time, it did anger me a little bit – because I thought it was a bit unfair, and a bit targeted really. So I called him and expressed my disappointment in his comments.”

Broad felt he had no choice but to do so.

“I’m not going to hold a personal grudge if someone criticises me, particularly if I feel like I deserve it,” he said.

I’m friends with Vaughany. He was a fantastic captain to me, gave me a great opportunity ... he’s great company.

“But I just didn’t feel like I really deserved that, so I thought I’d express that opinion to him.”

England answered the rallying call from captain Joe Root as they dominated day one.

After Sarfraz Ahmed chose to bat under initially sunny skies at Headingley, England’s three senior seamers shared nine wickets in humid conditions and Pakistan struggled against the swinging ball.

Shadab Khan ( 56) responded, after the loss of three wickets for one run, with spirited resistance to help Pakistan more than double their total from 79 for seven.

By stumps, despite the late departure of Alastair Cook, the hosts were 106 for two on a good batting surface as they seek to square this series at 1-1 and avoid a seventh defeat in their last nine Tests.

It was no less than Root demanded, on the eve of this match, when he spelled out that England have been underperforming for far too long.

Picture: Getty. Stuart Broad in action on the opening day of the second Test at Headlingley.