Former England swashbuckling batter Kevin Pietersen reckons he doesn’t think Indian captain Jasprit Bumrah got his tactics right on the fourth day’s play against England at Edgbaston, Birmingham on Monday. Pietersen believes Bumrah failed to restrict England batters from rotating the strike at regular intervals as he was a bit defensive in his field placements.
The ball was reversing a bit for the Indian bowlers but England batters kept rotating the strike as there were gaps in the field. Alex Lees and Zak Crawley gave a perfect start to their team as they batted at the top of their game and added 107 runs for the opening alliance.
Subsequently, Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow did a fine job for England as they added an unbeaten stand of 150 runs for the fourth wicket and both of them look unperturbed at the crease.
Speaking to Sky Sports, “I don’t think Bumrah got his tactics right today at all, and I say that with the greatest deal of respect. There is no way with a reverse swinging ball that he should make it that easy for the batter, because the batter is trying so hard to decipher which way that ball is swinging.
“When it’s reverse swinging at 90mph, the nicest place to bat is at the non-striker’s end, and the ability to get to the non-striker’s end as easily as they did this afternoon, it’s too easy.”
England was able to put India on the backfoot after a good opening stand between their openers. Thus, Bumrah had a long on and long off throughout the day’s play and Pietersen believes it was pure madness as India didn’t tempt England batters to take extra risk.
“They had long off and long on, and that was pure madness. For half an hour that was pure madness. Even for the last 15-20 minutes of the day’s play, pull them right in, say ‘Jonny, if you’re good enough to hit me over the head, please do it.’ I hope they don’t do it tomorrow morning, but for England’s sake, absolutely, let them spread them as far as they want.”
England is now on the cusp of a thrilling victory whereas India will need to pull a rabbit out of the hat to make a comeback on the final day’s play. The hosts need only 119 more runs to win and this will be their highest run chase ever in Test cricket.
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