England vs Pakistan: Stuart Broad unhappy with Michael Vaughan's criticism, calls it 'complete shot in the dark'

Leeds: Stuart Broad suggested Michael Vaughan no longer had "much insight into the England changing room at all" after coming under fire from his former captain.

Since retiring as a cricketer, Vaughan has forged a successful career as a media pundit.

Following a nine-wicket defeat by Pakistan in the first Test at Lord's, Vaughan suggested in both his Daily Telegraph column and on BBC Radio that England should think about dropping either James Anderson or Broad – their two all-time leading bowlers in Test cricket, with more than 900 wickets between them.

Stuart Broad. Reuters

Unsurprisingly, England ignored that bit of advice and the first day of the second Test at Headingley, where Vaughan made his name as a top-order batsman with Yorkshire, saw the veteran duo take three wickets each as Pakistan were dismissed for a meagre 174 after winning the toss.

At Friday's close, in a match they had to win to end the series all square, England were 106 for two – just 68 runs behind.

After stumps, Broad said he had contacted Vaughan about the remarks he made regarding England's display at Lord's.

"You get used to both positive and negative opinions, but sometimes I don't think it is justified," he said. "This time, it did anger me a little bit – because I thought it was a bit unfair, and a bit targeted really," Broad told reporters.

"So I called him and expressed my disappointment in his comments," added the 31-year-old Nottinghamshire paceman.

"I'm not going to hold a personal grudge if someone criticises me, particularly if I feel like I deserve it.

"I'm friends with Vaughany. He was a fantastic captain to me, gave me a great opportunity ... he's great company. But I just didn't feel like I really deserved that, so I thought I'd express that opinion to him."

Doesn't know

However, Broad accepted Vaughan might be less than thrilled by his latest comments, saying: "I think I might have reignited a few things this evening, but I'm sure it will be fine come Monday."

England have lost six of their last eight Tests and Vaughan said the team needed freshening up if only to "ruffle feathers".

Broad, however, was unimpressed with the reasoning of the 43-year-old Vaughan, who last played Test cricket a decade ago.

"It's a complete shot in the dark really, isn't it?" Broad said.

"He doesn't know what the changing room is like. I don't think he's got much insight into the England changing room at all.

"I don't think the players talk to him about cricket or what's going on within the changing room, so I think it was a bit of a wild guess... But it's personal columns, radio shows that need 'likes' and air time, isn't it?"

Broad led England's attack with three for 38 on Friday having managed just a solitary wicket at Lord's last week.

"Two Tests ago, I got eight wickets in Christchurch; I've been beating the bat, feeling in good rhythm, getting wickets for Nottinghamshire," explained Broad.

"So I felt like the criticism this week was a little bit unjustified – but that's the world we live in."

As for the idea that Vaughan's remarks had spurred him on to success, Broad said: "I don't think it stung me into action," he added. "I like punditry ... I respect everyone's opinion... most of the time, especially when it's fair. I've come in for criticism a lot in my career, (and) a lot of it has been justified.

"At this level, you've always got a point to prove.

"We didn't do ourselves justice at Lord's at all... and we left angry as players," he added.

Updated Date: Jun 02, 2018 12:14:33 IST