In a truly heartbreaking result, England lost to India by 336 runs. This defeat was in the second Test match at Edgbaston. The match has opened some huge questions about the strategic decisions made like the one England made at the toss. Ever reliable skipper Ben Stokes has often opted to bowl first, with victory already in 10 of his 11 games when this has been the case. This time, though, he could not have been more disappointed to lose the toss. India’s win is their first at Edgbaston, and the first ever for captain Shubman Gill.
Black Caps coach Brendon McCullum admitted there may have been a mistake in electing to bowl first. After playing out the scenario, he saw the longer the game continued, the more obvious it was that they had missed an opportunity with their first pick.
“I think as the game unfolded we probably looked back on that toss and said ‘did we miss an opportunity there?’ and it’s probably fair,” – Coach Brendon McCullum
Stokes went as far as to say he was “absolutely livid” that England had failed to wrap up India’s tail in the first innings. From a wobbly 211-5, the 2020 champions recovered to post an intimidating target of 737.
“Having them 211-5, we were happy there – even five down at the end of day one,” – Ben Stokes
After a flying start, England were unable to build on their advantage. Stokes admitted that it’s not always easy to forecast how a wicket will play.
“No-one’s got a crystal ball, no-one really knows what a wicket’s going to do,” – Ben Stokes
Gill handsomely anchored India’s inning. His incredible tally of 430 runs over the two innings made it the second-highest aggregate score in Test history. Akash Deep was pivotal to India’s success. He took ten wickets for only 187 runs in the game.
Gill praised Deep’s performance, stating, “He bowled with so much heart and skilfully with his lengths.” This victory is important not just for the Indian team’s morale but it’s educational for Gill as a captain.
“Every day is a learning curve for me,” – Shubman Gill
The crushing defeat have forced England to change their squad going into the third Test which takes place at Lord’s due to start on 29 May. Seamer Gus Atkinson is back with the party! He has made a complete recovery from a hamstring curse that ruled him out of the first two Tests. The side could be bolstered by the return of Jofra Archer, potentially making his first Test appearance in four years. Due to the relatively short turnaround between matches, they might be able to call upon Sam Cook and Jamie Overton.
McCullum did concede the four defeats in quick succession exposed mistakes in the England camp. This public admission is an unprecedented step, not just in baseball but in all of professional sports. Personnel and strategic change may suggest that they are serious about coming back stronger from this disappointment.
As England prepares for their next challenge, Stokes remains unperturbed about his bowlers’ efforts during the match, suggesting a focus on learning and improving moving forward.
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