I was staggered when Ben Stokes chose to bowl first in Headingley Test: Michael Vaughan

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has questioned Ben Stokes' decision to field first on a sunny day at Headingley in Leeds in the first Test. It turned out to be a good toss to lose for India, as they aggregated 359 for 3 on Day 1. Stokes' call backfired, as centuries from opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and captain Shubman Gill - his first as skipper - helped the tourists get into a position of strength in their series opener against England.

Vaughan said that it is important to bat first at Headingley when the sun is out and the weather is on the drier side. He stressed the importance of making decisions based on the moment and not by looking back at things that happened in the past.

"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. Traditions are out the window. You have to pick your decisions on that moment, and not things that you did here years ago," Vaughan told BBC Test Match Special.

Vaughan said that England's strength lies in their batting, while the bowling department is inexperienced, with the likes of Jofra Archer and Mark Wood recuperating from injuries behind the scenes and Stuart Broad and James Anderson retired. The Three Lions have bowled first in eight out of the nine home Tests when Stokes won the toss. England have registered six wins while bowling first. However, Vaughan feels that past records shouldn't be considered at all times.

"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. You look at the England side and their strength is in the batting. And there is inexperience in the bowling at the moment. Ben clearly had a gut feeling, and sometimes it has worked," he added.

You look at the surface and make the decision on what you think will give you the best chance: Tim Southee

Former New Zealand Test captain and current England fast-bowling consultant, Tim Southee, tried to explain the thought process behind opting to field first. He said that the greenish nature of the surface and the early morning moisture convinced the England team that bowling first was the better option.

"With the colour of the wicket yesterday, and a little bit of moisture left in it, if there was a little bit of help in it, it was probably going to be this morning. That was the thinking behind the decision. You look at the surface and make the decision on what you think will give you the best chance. Not all the time do you get it right," Southee said after play on Day 1.

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