Vaughan: England did not use their brains
Former England captain Michael Vaughan has criticised the current team after losing the ODI series against South Africa at Newlands on Sunday, saying they did not use their brains.
The tourists were two-nil up in the five-match series but lost the last three games to concede what would have been a morale-boosting victory.
The Three Lions did not bat out their 50 overs on Sunday, being bowled out for 236 in 45 overs, as they continued to play their new attacking brand of cricket when conditions required the batters to take more care.
Writing for the The Telegraph, Vaughan said: "You have to be smart sometimes and use your brain. England did not do that in the final two matches of the series and let South Africa steal a win.
"I watched the last two matches closely and it was as if the players had an excuse for getting out. They say 'it is the way we play'. But a savvy team becomes world champions by realising that there is more than one way to bat.
"England seem to think they can make 330-350 on any surface. By going hard at the Wanderers and Cape Town they ended up miles short and not batting out their overs. Failing to bat the full overs is a cardinal sin in 50-over cricket.
"It is OK to be bowled out with five or six balls to go but five or six overs is schoolboy cricket."
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