Michael Vaughan says India can not make selection errors in 5th Test against England

Former England captain Michael Vaughan reckons India can not make selection errors in the fifth and final Test of the series against England. India handed a debut to Anshul Kamboj at Old Trafford but the rookie pacer failed to impress as he returned with figures of 1-89 in the 18 overs he bowled. The tourists also continued to ignore Kuldeep Yadav in the final Test for the batting depth.

Vaughan also reckons India should convince Jasprit Bumrah to play the final Test. It was earlier revealed by India’s think tank that Bumrah would play only three out of the five Test matches to manage his workload and the gun fast bowler has already played three games.

Bumrah has scalped 14 wickets in three Test matches at an average of 26. With series on the line, Vaughan said the ace pacer should play in London.

Michael Vaughan wrote in his column for the Telegraph, “They got their selection wrong again, but cannot make the same mistake with the series on the line at the Oval. Can they convince Bumrah to play one more game? Surely they have to.”

Vaughan lauded India’s batting effort in the third innings of the fourth Test after KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Washington Sundar, and Ravindra Jadeja delivered for the visitors.

“It should be said that India were magnificent in the third innings. Rahul and Shubman Gill laid the platform and the all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar. They showed once again that they are a team that does not give up, and they have highly skilled players. Their task to save the draw was so much tougher than England’s at Edgbaston, yet they managed it,” he added.

On the other hand, former England captain Sir Alastair Cook reckons if Bumrah is not fit, not playing him in the fifth Test would be the right call. 

Cook said on BBCI Test match special, “Even if he isn’t going to play, you wouldn’t tell people now, just on a purely tactical basis. They made a mistake at the beginning of the series saying he could only play three, because you get thrown into a situation like now where the series is still on the line. If he’s not fit to play, not playing is the right decision.”

Bumrah had twisted his ankle in the fourth Test but head coach Gautam Gambhir revealed in the press conference that all the fast bowlers are fit.

The fifth and final Test match between England and India will be played at the Kennington Oval, London, from 31st July onwards.