Former England cricketer David Lloyd stated that Team India has the potential to play Test cricket like Ben Stokes-led England team. The veteran also feels that star Indian batter Virat Kohli has such a style. Notably, under Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum, England have changed the way of playing red-ball cricket as well.
However, they won seven Tests out of eight as well, including a famous one over Pakistan in Rawalpindi on Monday, December 5 as well. In his column for the Daily Mail, Lloyd added that while England’s methods are not new, he shared that India can also have the same approach.
“It is not totally new, of course. The Australian team of the 90s were very positive and the great West Indian sides were full of exhilarating stroke-makers. I reckon a team capable of this style now is India. They have all the tools. There has been a suspicion that Indian batters are stats driven but Virat Kohli is one who could drive this,” David Lloyd again shared.
Oh, the SCENES 😍
🇵🇰 #PAKvENG 🏴 pic.twitter.com/MStHHbwFgr
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) December 5, 2022
“I think Pakistan were spooked by that declaration from Stokes” – David Lloyd
The first Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi witnessed England have a scoring rate of 6.50 in the first innings, followed by 7.36 in the second as well. Furthermore, Stokes boldly declared in the second innings, giving the hosts 343 runs to win with more than a day to go also. But they could only manage 268 before getting all out.
“I think Pakistan were spooked by that declaration from Stokes. The onus was on them to go for it and they did show positive intent for a large part of their chase but towards the end I’m not sure whether they knew whether they knew whether to stick or twist. I don’t think anyone expected Stokes to call England in at tea on the fourth day, certainly not Babar Azam,” David Lloyd concluded.
The second Test between Pakistan and England will begin on December 17 in Multan.
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