Kevin Pietersen slams England’s performance against Australia on Day One of the second Ashes Test

Kevin Pietersen has punched England for their performance on the first day of the second Ashes Test against Australia at Lords.

Ben Stokes won the toss to put the Aussies in bowler-friendly conditions on a green field as they attempted to bounce back from their two wicket defeat in the first Test at Edgbaston last week.

However, they were nowhere near their best with the ball or in the field and David Warner and Usman Khawaja started well with 73 for the first wicket – while Ollie Pope and Joe Root also dropped catches.

Ashes debutant Josh Tongue made his breakthrough as he bowled both openers on either side of the luncheon – with the Worcestershire swift being England’s fastest and most menacing bowler by far – as the other sailors struggled for consistency.

And former England star Pietersen was not at all happy with the whole performance in the first two sessions which saw the visitors go 180-2 at tea.

England struggled in the field against Australia after winning the toss and choosing to bowl first

England has been chaotic. Absolutely chaotic,” he told Sky Sports during the tea break.

“You have overhead conditions, you have a wicket to match your bowlers and you have bowlers rushing in at 78, 79, 80 mph.

It’s one thing to wave around and say ‘this is a great team to play in, we’re creating the best environment’.

‘But this isn’t Ash’s cricket. I played Ashes cricket. I played 30 Tests against Australia.’

Pietersen was particularly angry with England’s attitude. During the morning session, when there was a brief rain delay, the Stokes side had to be called out of the dressing room by umpires Ahsan Raza and Chris Gaffaney when Australia’s openers were already on the field.

The former batsman was also dissatisfied with the lack of animosity England showed towards its opponents, arguing they were too friendly.

He added: ‘The Australians were out batting for the England bowlers. England’s bowlers should have stood on those stairs this morning and said “we want to bowl to Australia, we’re dying to bowl to them”. These two batters are waiting for England and that shouldn’t be the case.

The hosts were sloppy and Pietersen questioned their attitude, considering it an astest

He also claimed England was too nice and said Brendon McCullum should give them dressing for their display during tea break.

‘It’s all too easy, but too beautiful. Are you telling me Ricky Ponting is going to talk to Geraint Jones in 2005?

“You think Michael Vaughan would stand next to Justin Langer and say ‘what a cool day, it’s overcast, it’s beautiful, what a setting here at Lord’s, what do you think of the wicket?’

‘Are you joking? Are you really kidding? I just hope they’re in that dressing room now and the England coach gives them the biggest hammer and says “this isn’t good enough”.

“It’s definitely not good enough. You can’t bowl here today (like this one) and you can’t have these terms and you can’t declare for 390.

“Do you think Australia will report today? You think they declare, get 390 and then say go to England, go hit.’