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'Where Was The Spark? Where Was The...': Nasser Hussain Questions England's Lack Of Intent on Day 1 of Lord's Test

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Day 1 of the ongoing Lord's Test between England and Australia in 'The Ashes 2023' sees the visitors all over the hosts, as they looted 339 runs in a single day on Wednesday, with Steven Smith and Alex Carey still batting on 85* and 11*, respectively. 

Skipper Ben Stokes opting to bowl, could not utilise his bowlers well despite helpful overhead conditions against an in-form Australian batter order, that has shown no signs of slowing down since the Edgbaston Test.

England were sloppy in the field, dropping as many as two catches; one of Usman Khawaja and David Warner each. Warner ended up scoring 66 crucial runs for Australia and helped batters coming down the order have a stable foundation. 

Former England captain Nasser Hussain has lambasted England's poor tactics, and on-field intent in his column for the Daily Mail.  The English bowlers were guilty of bowling 12 no-balls,  which include six from Ollie Robinson and three from Stokes.

Here's what Hussain wrote

“They were subdued despite winning the toss and there was a real lack of intensity to their bowling attack - the speeds of each of the five seam bowlers was down and they didn't bowl bouncers to change things up - while the fielding was sloppy and they missed catches.

Where was the spark? Where was the urgency? When the Just Stop Oil protest happened, there was a lot of chat and then, when it rained they strolled off and were still upstairs when the Australian batters were waiting on the steps at the bottom of the pavilion."

Hussain also questioned Stokes' captaincy, where slips and close-in fielders were needed, the England leader opted for a conventional field, allowing Australian batters to settle in.

The 55-year-old did praise youngster Josh Tongue, for being the stand-out pacer for the Three Lions, claiming wickets of Warner and Khawaja.