Former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria has questioned the absence of senior spinner Ravichandran Ashwin from the ongoing Test between India and England at Edgbaston in Birmingham. After dominating the majority of the Test match, India lost momentum as England gained control on Day 4 in their run chase. Going into the final day, the hosts require only 119 runs with seven wickets in hand to level the series.
India’s struggle with the ball was visible on Day 4. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami made some inroads with the new balls but looked flat in the second half. Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur also flattered to deceive while Ravindra Jadeja’s negative bowling earned the wrath of fans.
As the Men in Blue struggled to pick up wickets, former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria questioned the team selection. In his latest post on the Koo app, he mentioned that the Jasprit Bumrah-led team is paying the price of leaving out veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.
“Winning to losing position team India at Edgbaston. Why Ravichandran Ashwin was not in playing eleven who made the call, Dravid, as coach played so much in England, know the condition very well it’s England summer where the wickets get baked and dry and from day 3 ball gets to spin, where there is seam it will spin because of moisture. Only Bumrah looks that he can do wonders. India made the mistake and paying the price,” Kaneria said.
Ravichandran Ashwin, whose arrival in the UK was delayed due to Covid-19, was benched for the Edgbaston Test. The management went with Ravindra Jadeja along with four pacers in Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, and Shardul Thakur.
England require 119 runs to level the series
That's Stumps on Day 4 of the Edgbaston Test!
England move to 259/3 before the close of play.
See you tomorrow for Day 5 action.
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/xOyMtKrYxM #TeamIndia | #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/N48XjJFZF8
— BCCI (@BCCI) July 4, 2022
Barring rain, this match is headed for a result. Bumrah and Co. can only lift the series if they get the next seven English batters out, which will require a mix of some drastically improved bowling and luck. The magic will have to come from Bumrah and Shami and it will have to be in the first 45 minutes.
Despite losing a few wickets, Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow steadied the ship. Despite not showing the ‘Bazball’ belligerence, Root and Bairstow ended the day at 76* (112) and 72* (87) respectively.
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