Fans were waiting to see how England’s ‘Bazball’ tactics would fare against Australia’s formidable bowling unit in the Ashes. Australia came into the first Test, after being crowned World Test Champions as they beat India in the final at The Oval last week. While everyone expected Australia to come out all guns blazing, that didn’t come to fruition as Australian captain Pat Cummins set defensive fields from the early goings on Day 1, after England won the toss and opted to bat.
“It feels a bit un-Australian. They normally fight fire with fire,” the 38-year-old said on the BBC’s Test Match Special.
“I’ve never seen Australia with four men on the boundary,” the former Australian skipper remarked on the field setting.
“Australia have got it wrong, but from an England perspective it is fantastic to see Australia so defensive. I just think first morning of an Ashes series, I would have thought that Pat Cummins would have said, ‘OK England, give it a go. We don’t mind. Hit us for six fours … a couple of sixes, no problem. Then we will go to plan B,” Pietersen said.
“I think that they went straight to plan-B.”
