India’s combination of line-up in the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy has sparked quite a bit of debate at the Edgbaston Test. The side instead of opting for specialist bowlers or batters decided to go with all-rounders. However, they won the second Test lost the third Test after a close fight at Lord’s.
But the Indian cricketer Ajinkya Rahane opined that India should go with the extra bowler despite the merits that the side has shown picking the all-rounders in the last two Tests. “We all know that Day 4 and 5 get slightly difficult to bat on. It’s not easy to score runs. Yes, England bowled really well. But I felt India missed an opportunity to get that big score on the board in the first innings. And also, I feel going forward, India should look to add one extra bowler – because you’re going to win a Test match or a Test series by getting 20 wickets,” Rahane said on his YouTube channel.
In addition to speaking about the Indian team, Rahane also praised Ben Stokes for his efforts in the third Test, who chipped in with valuable contributions with the bat and also bowled marathon spells in the game, inducing crucial wickets. On the field on Day 3, he hit the stumps directly to influence the runout of Rishabh Pant just before the Lunch break.
“It’s very easy for the fielder to get relaxed,” Rahane noted. “When you see only two or three balls left before lunch, you can easily get relaxed. But his attitude towards the ball, his intensity, and getting that run-out – that’s where I felt England came into the game,” observed Rahane.
“That’s what you want to see in Test cricket – all 11 fielders coming together and looking to win the Test match,” Rahane concluded on England’s comeback effort after the mauling they took at Edgbaston.
