After India gained a 180-run first innings lead in the second Test at Edgbaston, KL Rahul and Karun Nair ensured that India leads England by 244 run at the end of the third day’s play. With two more days remaining in the Test, India will look towards building a huge second innings total before they put England to chase the target. With England scoring 407 runs in their first innings in 89.3 overs at a run-rate of 4.54, former captain Nasser Hussain has termed the shorter recovery time for the bowlers to rest due to Bazball as a negative of England’s aggressive approach.
“India know they need time to bowl England out, it’s still a very good pitch. That’s why I think they’ve been positive tonight, which is the right approach. Also they’re taking advantage of tired bowlers. That’s the negative of Bazball, these bowlers hardly get a rest,” Hussain told Sky Sports.
After India had reduced England to 84 for 5 in their first innings, with India posting a mammoth total of 587 in their first innings, Harry Brook and Jamie Smith stitched together a 303-run sixth-wicket partnership in 368 balls. It was also England’s second-highest sixth-wicket partnership in Tests. While England lost their last five wickets quickly with their first innings folding at 407 runs and handing a 180-run first innings’ lead to India, Hussain praised the quick scoring by Brook and Smith but also found the England bowlers tired due to England batting quickly. “Watching this England team is just so much fun, long may it continue. One of the consequences of Bazball, though, is their bowlers bowl so quickly – on flat pitches in back-to-back matches they’re coming in tired. They look tired and frazzled,” Hussain said.
While Brook scored his ninth Test hundred with his knock of 158, England wicket-keeper Jamie Smith scored his second Test hundred with an unbeaten knock of 184 runs off 207 balls. Hussain termed Smith’s knock as ‘Bazball with brains’. “He (Jamie Smith) didn’t look reckless, it was more Bazball with brains. Anyone who has watched Surrey and England will know he is a man of talent. More than his ability, I like his calmness and attitude. He looks like he is meant to be playing here,” Hussain said.
