Our Bureau
London
England has dominated the fourth match of the Anderson Tendulkar Trophy in Manchester and many have pointed fingers at the newly appointed Captain of India, Shubman Gill. Former Head Coach of the Indian Team, Ravi Shastri has blasted Gill for his tactics on the field regarding his field changes and bowling rotations in England’s first innings.
Shastri seemed a bit frustrated on how Gill used Washington Sundar in the match after his splendid performance in the last match at Lord’s. Shastri stated that it was a tactical flaw and for a bowler who took 4 wickets in the last match Sundar should have been brought much earlier than.
Shastri said, “He took four wickets in the last game. Then you bring that bloke after 67, 69 overs. I mean, what does it tell that player? Here, I’ve taken four. I should be like a front-runner, bowling within the first 30, 35 overs. And you’re getting me on after 69. And then he takes the first two wickets. So tactically, I thought they were found wanting.”
He also pointed out that Mohammed Siraj, who was India’s highest wicket-taker in the series at the end of 3rd Test and is the second leader of the pace attack after Jasprit Bumrah, should’ve gotten the new ball ahead of the debutant, Anshul Kamboj.
“I thought Siraj should have taken the new ball yesterday. Instead of giving it to Kamboj, who’s new, playing his first Test match. That let the pressure off England. Then the bouncer tactic, which they’re 24 hours late. That should have been tried yesterday to see if they could have made further inroads. So tactically a lot was missing,” added Shastri.
At the end of the first session of Day 4 of the 4th Test, England were way ahead of the visitors and were looking in a very comfortable position. They were dismissed on the mammoth score of 669, taking a lead of 311 runs. India on the other hand didn’t start their innings well and lost two wickets in the first over of the innings to Chris Woakes in the second inning.
