Third Test: England Drubbed Within Two Days
Holding an extreme view and carting the ball out of the park is what interests him most. He is a hard hitter at all times. Fasten your seatbelts and read.
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By Slogger
First publised on 2021-02-26 06:24:03
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Holding an extreme view and carting the ball out of the park is what interests him most. He is a hard hitter at all times. Fasten your seatbelts and read.
View all posts by this Author
For the record, India won the third Test by 10 wickets to take a 2-1 lead in the four-match series and brightened its chances of making the finals of the ICC World Test Championship. The match ended within two days and the pitch came in for a lot of criticism. But it needs to be stressed that the strip was same for both the teams.
England won the toss and were bowled out for 112 runs in their first innings. The ball turned menacingly yet in a test of skill, the English batsmen were found wanting as most got out to the ball that straightened after pitching. They were always in two minds and footwork was conspicuously absent. India did well in the beginning as Rohit Sharma displayed the skills needed to survive on this track. For a while, Virat Kohli too played brilliantly and it seemed they would build a huge lead for India. But Kohli made a hash of a straighter delivery and played on just an over before stumps. The next day, India lost 7 wickets for just 46 runs to end at 145. The Indians also displayed lack of technique by getting out to part-time bowler Joe Root, despite being good players of spin.
Englandâs second innings was even worse. No batsman, except Joe Root and Ben Stokes for some time, showed the patience needed to counter the spin and stay at the wicket. The Indian bowlers, especially Axar Patel, bowled superbly and mixed the deliveries well to keep the Englishmen guessing. Yet, to be out for just 81 runs in less than 31 overs is unacceptable. India knocked off the required runs without losing a wicket.
England made the mistake of going in with just one regular spinner. They would have been embarrassed more if skipper Joe Root (5/8) had not done the star turn with his right arm leg break. For, if the fast bowlers were bowling from one end, Leach would have found it difficult to put pressure on the Indian batsmen as spinners like to hunt in pairs. Both teams need to introspect and find out the reasons for the poor batting as skill and temperament were sorely missing.
