India, June 21 -- Michael Vaughan didn't mince words after watching England captain Ben Stokes' bold decision to bowl first at Headingley spectacularly backfire on Day 1 of the opening Test against India. Under bright sunshine and with a dry pitch on offer, Ben Stokes' call to let India bat raised eyebrows, none more arched than Vaughan's.

"I am an old school traditionalist here at Leeds that when the sun is shining, with dry weather, you bat. I was staggered when he said he was going to bowl," Vaughan said, clearly unimpressed.

"Traditions are out the window. You always have to pick your decisions on that moment, and not things that you did here years ago or at other times. It can't affect what the decision is today."

By stumps, India...