Indian bowlers had no answers to the questions asked by English batsmen on Day 4 and Day 5 of the fifth and final Edgbaston Test. Openers Alex Lees and Zak Crawley took them to the sword and stitched a 100-run opening partnership. Following their dismissals, Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow slammed unbeaten centuries to help England chase down 378 in the final innings and draw the Test series 2-2.
The bowling unit has been one of India’s greatest assets in Test cricket in recent years but in Birmingham, they looked surprisingly toothless. While Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami were unlucky to not have made more inroads, Shardul Thakur and Mohammed Siraj conceded runs aplenty and failed to make an impact.
Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra also took to Twitter to highlight the inefficiency of the Indian bowling unit to defend fourth innings totals. The 44-year-old also pointed out that it is becoming an increasing concern in the final innings.
Against England, India had a more than decent total of 378 to protect. Chasing targets on the final couple of days of a Test match is never easy as the conditions change and the pitch starts to wear down. However, given the manner in which they ended up succumbing to the England run-chase, it definitely begs questions.
This was also the case on the tour of South Africa where India had taken a 113-run lead after winning the first Test by 113 runs. However, the hosts bounced back and won the second and third Tests easily chasing targets with seven wickets in hand.
Speaking about the struggle of the Indian bowlers, Aakash Chopra said, “378 should have been enough with the bowling attack we had. As I had said, this bowling attack doesn’t come with a ‘conditions apply’ rider. Whether they play in South Africa, Australia, England, or India, they often do well.”
“But if you see the last three Tests, the two against South Africa and now against England, the run-chases have been completed in a canter. Fourth innings runs are never easy but they did it without much fuss.”
India need to brush aside the pain of the defeat as the three-match T20I series against England begins on July 7, with the first match being held at the Rose Bowl Cricket Ground in Southampton.
