Shubman Gill's Batting Blitz And Bazball Backfire Spell Doom For England In Edgbaston Test

There is euphoria in Indian cricket circles after the trouncing handed out to England in the second Test at Edgbaston, Birmingham, on Sunday to level the five-Test series 1-1. The win, by 336 runs, is the largest such victory margin for an Indian team abroad.

After the shock defeat in the first Test at Headingley, Leeds, where India became the first team in Test history to lose after scoring five centuries, this result has brought the series back to life. The Test was almost buried under a mountain of runs, with India crossing 1,000 for the first time in their 591 Tests.

Captain Shubman Gill’s extraordinary batting form—he scored a century in the first Test—with a century and a double century means he has now crossed 500 runs in just two Tests and must be having Don Bradman’s almost invincible world record of 974 runs in a series (England 1930) in his sights.

However, it is a truism in cricket that it is bowlers that win matches, and it was India’s pace attack of Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj that won the day, as they exploited the conditions far better than the home bowlers. Akash only got in for this Test due to the enforced absence of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who is being rested for two of the five Tests to preserve his fitness.

The biggest surprise so far in these two Tests has been the flat tracks on which batsmen on both sides have flourished. The orders have been sent out to the curators by the ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) for pitches to last all five days for purely financial reasons.

England’s attacking methods—known as Bazball—mean Tests are finishing in four days or less, causing a huge loss of TV and spectator revenue. This has taken the sting out of the early morning sessions, where bowlers in England traditionally dominate the bat.

While T20 cricket has hastened scoring rates and improved out-fielding, it has also nullified the ability to bat out a day or more to save a Test and also seen a drastic dip in the quality of slip catching. Gill’s long-delayed decision to declare on the fourth day, till he had a massive lead of 608 runs, could have come to grief if rain had played spoilsport on the final day.

Viral! England Fan Dedicates Song To Team India Pacer Akash Deep After Edgbaston Heroics; Video

As it was, only 10 overs were lost, and it is here that England’s obsession with Bazball spelt their doom, as they are not mentally or technically equipped to buckle down to force a draw.

India has never won a five-Test series in England, and there is a long way to go with the third Test at Lord’s beginning Thursday. The return of Bumrah will surely be a big boost for India’s chances to take the lead in the series.