ENG vs WI | Dominic Sibley played flamboyantly, nothing wrong with his hundred, stresses Michael Vaughan
Former England captain Michael Vaughan has backed Dominic Sibley, who faced significant criticism due to his ‘slow’ hundred in the 1st innings of the Manchester Test. Vaughan stated that he found it rather funny that Sibley, who scored 120 off 372, was criticised for playing ‘flamboyantly’.
Having won the toss, West Indies asked England to bat first under the cloudy weather at Manchester. Despite a couple of early scalps, the 260-run partnership between Dom Sibley (120 off 372) and Ben Stokes (176 off 356) changed the course of the game. At the end of Stumps Day 2, while England declared on 469/9, West Indies were on 32/1.
However, as Day 3 was washed out, and jeopardised England’s chance to win the game, the media criticised Sibley for playing slow. It took Sibley 312 deliveries to reach his hundred, making it the slowest century since Bangladesh’s Tamim Iqbal required the same number of deliveries to reach the three figures. However, former skipper Michael Vaughan backed the 24-year-old opener, stating that Sibley is the right choice for the England team. Vaughan added that Sibley’s innings was flamboyant and does not call for criticism.
"England is a funny team to follow because we criticise them when they play flamboyantly and there were so many on social media criticising the way that Dom Sibley was playing. He is absolutely right for this England team. That is exactly what England have required for a long period of time. Someone that just wants to stay in, value their wicket, bat a period of time," Vaughan was quoted as saying by 'Wisden'.
"Give the likes of Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Ollie Pope, these flamboyant players the foundation to go and play their way. So Dom Sibley deserves a lot of credit for just sticking to his game, I don't think he should change. I don't think there is too much wrong with him, maybe he could bring in an off-side game or two just to try and put more pressure on the bowlers when he is set and he gets in," he added.
Sibley's century on Day 2 of the Old Trafford Test was his second in Test cricket, after having scored his maiden ton against Proteas in Cape Town in January.
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