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Vaughan hits out at England batsmen

An England great was highly critical of his team's batting performance on day two of the second Test

Former skipper Michael Vaughan was left "appalled" following England's meek batting effort in the first innings of the second Test against South Africa. 

England were dismissed for just 205 on Saturday, with South Africa reaching 1-75 in their second innings at stumps and an overall lead of 205 in the crucial Test at Trent Bridge.

Vaughan queried the current setup of the England side and said some of the shot-making against the Proteas had been far too aggressive.

"The England batting has been appalling. Maybe it's a lack of respect about what the game is," Vaughan said on BBC Test Match Special.

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"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."

Vaughan said England's batsmen need to trust their own techniques and should attempt to occupy the crease for longer periods if the ball was swinging around.

"The (batsmen) don't trust their techniques to stay in long enough," he said.



"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.

"I worry about the mentality of the Test batting because as soon as the things get difficult - it swings around or spins - they play aggressively."

Vaughan believes England have too many allrounders in the line-up and need to include an extra batsman in time for the Ashes series in Australia later this year.

"England are a batter light," Vaughan added. 

"You don't need six bowling options. This is the kind of team you pick after winning Test match after Test match.

"You have three all-rounders in Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali and Jonny Bairstow, so pack the batting. All the players from Joe Root down will give you chances.

"England lost eight Tests last year. They need to pack the batting. They are not good enough or winning enough games to go with that line up."