'India Are Playing on England's Ego' - Formar cricketers and experts question timing of declaration in 2nd Test at Edgbaston

Sun, 06 Jul 2025 18:01:27 GMT

India's decision to delay their declaration in the second innings of the second Test versus England has faced backlash from a number of former players and cricket analysts. Even though the Shubman Gill-led side held a sizeable lead, they batted for almost an hour in the third session on day 4 before declaring and setting England a target of 608 runs. This left India with just over three sessions and one hour to bowl out England and push for a win.

With rain predicted on the fifth day, which eventually caused delays, many felt that India had wasted precious time. Critics pointed out that the declaration came too late. Former England cricketer Ian Ward suggested that India was playing mind games with England, especially after Ben Stokes had made his team's fourth-innings chasing confidence very clear.

Before the match, Stokes had boldly stated, "We're confident in our abilities to be able to go out and chase when we have to bat in the fourth innings." That statement came after England had successfully chased 371 in the first Test at Leeds.

Experts React to India's Strategy

Speaking on Sky Sports, Ian Ward said, "We always hear England and Ben Stokes say, 'we'll try to chase anything to win.' India is just playing on that here; that's the only reason I can think of as to why they've declared so late. They're playing on England's ego, confidence, mantra, or whatever you want to call it."

Mark Butcher, another former England player, also questioned India’s approach, calling the timing of the declaration "a bit baffling." He added, "It is a legacy, a tribute, to the fear Stokes and England put into teams when setting fourth-innings targets. India wants to make sure England is completely and utterly out of it, and then you ask a team reticent to draw games whether they can do it. India could have given themselves more time to win the game by scoring faster."

"But whether that turns out to be the right thing to do, we will find out tomorrow, but for now it is a little bit baffling," Butcher concluded.

"How Poorly He Bowled": Ex-England star's brutally honest take on Ravindra Jadeja's performance

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 19:10:01 GMT

Former England cricketer Mark Butcher has come down hard on Ravindra Jadeja’s bowling performance during the first Test between India and England at Leeds. Speaking on the Wisden Cricket Weekly Podcast, Butcher criticized Jadeja for failing to exploit the rough patches on the pitch, which could have troubled England’s batters, especially the left-handers. India eventually lost the match by five wickets after England successfully chased down a challenging 371-run target on Day 5.

Butcher, in particular, was stunned by Jadeja's inability to bowl into the rough areas, despite his vast experience. “I could not believe how poorly he bowled. I would liken it to owning a hammer but punching nails in with your fist instead—not landing the ball in the rough at all until, basically, it was too late. That was extraordinary,” he said. He also mentioned wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant’s role in failing to guide the bowler effectively, adding, “Somehow, it didn't seem to click to him or Rishabh Pant, the keeper, that it might be a good idea not to keep missing the rough all day to the left-handers.”

Butcher also questioned India’s team selection, especially the inclusion of Shardul Thakur over a specialist spinner like Kuldeep Yadav. Thakur had a poor outing with both bat and ball, managing just two wickets in the match while being expensive and failing to reach double digits with the bat. “How much more interesting might that last day have been had they gone for Kuldeep Yadav instead of Shardul Thakur?” Butcher remarked, further adding, “If you are not contributing with the bat down there at No. 8, you damn well be taking wickets and be in the game as a bowler for more of the game than he was.”

India’s Missed Opportunities and England’s Clinical Finish

The Test started on a strong note for India after being put to bat, with hundreds from Yashasvi Jaiswal (101), Shubman Gill (147), and Rishabh Pant (134) taking them to 471. England responded well through Ollie Pope’s 106, Brook’s 99, and Duckett’s 62, reaching 465 and conceding a narrow six-run lead. Jasprit Bumrah took a five-wicket haul but lacked support from the rest of the attack.

India capitalized again in the second innings, with KL Rahul (137) and Pant (118) powering them to 364 and setting England a target of 371. However, a lower-order collapse meant they couldn’t stretch the lead further. England began their chase with a 188-run opening stand between Crawley (65) and Duckett (149), followed by an unbeaten 81-run partnership between Root (53*) and debutant Jamie Smith (44*), sealing the win. Duckett was named Player of the Match.