Former England skipper Nasser Hussain slammed the Ben Stokes-led for another batting collapse in the fifth Test match at Dharamsala on Thursday. After electing to bat first, England was motoring along at 175-3 but lost the remaining seven wickets for only 43 runs.
Kuldeep Yadav returned with figures of 5-72 whereas Ravichandran Ashwin, playing his 100th Test match, bagged four wickets. Zak Crawley top-scored for England with 79 but none of the other batters could breach the 50-run mark. In fact, Ben Duckett, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, and Ben Foakes all got off to starts but none of them could convert it into a big score.
England has been in a commanding position on multiple occasions in the ongoing series but they have failed to capitalize on the advantage.
“Missed opportunity, definitely in the last two matches. They had the opportunities to win those games and they didn’t. The second session between Lunch and Tea today was probably the most disappointing session for England on this tour. From 175 for three to 175 for 6, middle order blown away. It has become the repetitive nature of England batting and it has become concerning,” said Nasser Hussain on Sky Sports.
“I think with the batting approach England players need to look at their own games and try to improve. Whatever is your plan, whatever your coach or captain says, the best players, the greatest players like Ravichandran Ashwin, they try to improve, they try to get better.
Hussain slammed England’s batters for not making the most of their starts and throwing away their wickets at crucial junctures of the game.
“Zak Crawley has batted better but has been out between 50-80 the sixth time, Jonny Bairstow trying to counterattack getting to twenty-thirty and getting out. Ben Stokes has not been able to read Kuldeep Yadav from the wrist, he has hardly contributed with the bat. The struggle is real with the bat, not the conditions.
“Whatever coach, skipper or anyone suggests, the most important suggestion is for England batters to look upon themselves rather than listening to others. Enhance your own thought process on how to become a better cricketer. Hopefully, by the end of the tour, everyone will look at themselves and say, right, don’t hide behind Bazball and the mentality and try and improve your own game,” said Hussain.
At lunch on the second day, India has put themselves in front as they are 264-1, leading by 46 runs with Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill unbeaten after scoring their 12th and fourth century respectively.
