The highly anticipated Test series between India and England, Has been ended. After losing the first Test match in Hyderabad, team India bounced back heavily and won the series by a 4-1 margin. In the whole series, England struggled in every unit, from batting to bowling even in fielding. England skipper Ben Stokes faces the pain as the enjoyment fades for England.
England’s Struggle:
England arrived in Dharamsala with a clear message: losing 3-2 is preferable to 4-1. However, by succumbing to an innings defeat in just over two days, they found an even worse way to lose 4-1. Despite moments of promise, the scoreline reflects a significant gap between the two sides. While no visiting team has won a series in almost 12 years, India didn’t need to be at their best, underlining England’s struggles.
In a departure from his usual approach, Ben Duckett attempted an unfamiliar charge against Ashwin, resulting in a yorker that disrupted his off stump. Meanwhile, Zak Crawley, facing a Jasprit Bumrah-induced scoring halt, couldn’t replicate his earlier counterattacking success. A tentative shot around the corner resulted in a brilliant catch by Sarfaraz Khan, leaving Crawley with a scoreless 16-ball duck.
After receiving praise from Rahul Dravid for his exceptional sweeping in the first Test, Ollie Pope’s form took a nosedive. In stark contrast, he attempted a poorly executed sweep against Ashwin, leading to his downfall. Jonny Bairstow, targeting long-on, was later dismissed by Kuldeep Yadav. An argument with Shubman Gill ensued, with the 100-cap batter questioning Gill’s century count. Gill’s response revealed four centuries, leaving him eight short of matching the elder player’s tally in the next decade.
Ben Stokes, avoiding a leg-before trap, still fell victim to Ashwin’s drift from around the wicket. With an average of 19.90, this is his lowest in 16 away tours. Facing only 367 deliveries, just five more than Kuldeep, his struggles are evident. Ben Foakes, known for his solid batting, lost composure, bowled attempting a slog-sweep, becoming Ashwin’s ninth dismissal in his 100th cap. The finale featured a poignant moment with English greats Joe Root and James Anderson, the last surviving pair from 2012.
Ben Stokes’ View:
With their next match not until July 10 against West Indies at Lord’s, the England captain urged his players to use the current pain as motivation. They worked hard for an extended period but were left with nothing, facing the humiliation of collapsing in a manner they sought to avoid. The captain himself is determined to learn from this experience and move forward.
Stokes said, “Use it as fuel, I’ve been through a lot of ups and downs–that’s what playing 100 Test matches throws at you. I’m making sure that I use those down moments that I have had to maybe work even harder than I thought I was.”
After much criticism of England’s approach on this tour, Stokes bravely addressed a longstanding issue. He said, “The media name Bazball – everyone says ‘what is it?’ In my opinion, it’s wanting to be a better player. In the face of defeat and failure, Bazball will hopefully inspire people to become better players and become even better than what we are.”
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