The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

England complete ten-day turnaround against India

Alastair Cook's side has put Ashes success ahead of victory in the short term. (Image: AFP Photo/William West)
Expert
31st July, 2014
59

What a turnaround in 10 days! On July 21, Indian supporters were on the top of the world as the national side beat England in the second Test at Lords by 95 runs to lead 1-0 in the Pataudi Trophy.

Ten days later they were in despair as England annihilated them in the third Test at Southampton by 266 runs.

So what happened in one week? The hero of the Lord’s Test, Ishant Sharma, was injured and was omitted from the team for the third Test.

Another contributor for the Lord’s victory, Ravindra Jadeja, bowled a poor line and length and dropped captain Alastair Cook early on in the first innings. He went on to score 95.

There were many heroes for England too. Gary Ballance scored 156, Ian Bell 167 and Jos Buttler 85 on debut in the first innings. Joe Root played a flamboyant innings of 56 in the second at a strike rate of 136.58.

Man of the match fast bowler Jimmy Anderson bowled sensationally in the first innings to take 5/53 and the bearded off-spinner Moeen Ali bowled 6/67 in the second to dismiss a dispirited India for 178.

But for me it was skipper Alastair Cook who was behind this change of attitude by the England team.

Criticised by every critic – myself included – for his lack of batting form against Australia, Sri Lanka and India until last week, he came out to open the innings like a man on a mission.

Advertisement

Gone was his hesitancy, which was replaced by authority as he scored 95 in the first innings and an unbeaten 70 in the second. ‘Drop Cook as a batsman and skipper’ was the catch cry of critics, including Shane Warne.

I could discern a now or never attitude as Cook faced the first ball of the Test. And he was in charge throughout.

With centuries from Gary Ballance and Ian Bell (enriched with three sixes) and 85 by Buttler (belting three sixes as well) England declared at 7/569 on an easy-paced pitch.

India started their response poorly with Virat Kohli failing again and were all-out for 330, trailing England by 239 runs. Rather than enforce the follow-on Cook decided to bat again and go for runs.

All England’s batsmen attacked with gusto and declared at 4/205 at five runs an over. That set India a monumental 445 to win and they started poorly, losing four for 112 at stumps on day four.

The Test was finished before lunch on the final day as India lost the last six wickets for 66 runs. The only batsman to show some resistance was Ajinkya Rahane, who made a gritty and unbeaten 52.

He had also top-scored for India in the first innings with 54. The other batsmen, apart from skipper MS Dhoni in the first innings, were pathetic.

Advertisement

The series is now locked one-all with two Tests to go. Ten more sleepless nights for cricket lovers in Australia!

close