Former English cricketer Geoffrey Boycott felt hugely disappointed on India’s performance in the second Test at Lord’s. He slammed the no.1 Test team for performing below average in the first two Tests of the five-match Test series.
Facing the toughest batting condition after losing the toss at rain-marred Lord’s Test, the Indian team was bundled out for just 107 runs. After a struggling period with 131/5, England moved out from the tough situation by Chris Woakes (137*) and Jonny Bairstow’s (93) brilliant batting performances as England put 396/7 on the board before the declaration and took a massive 289 runs lead.
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In the second innings, the disaster batting performances were continued by the Indian batsmen as they were bundled out for just 130 runs and England won by an innings and 159 runs. Ravichandran Ashwin’s 33 not out in the second innings was the only 30+ knock by an Indian batsman in the whole Test match.
Commenting on India’s performances, Boycott wrote in his column in Daily Telegraph, “Great teams and great players should not buckle as easily as India did at Lord’s just because the ball swings and seams. The whole point of playing cricket in different countries on different pitches and in different climatic conditions is to test your technique, character and ability to adapt.
“So far, the Indian players have let themselves and their supporters down. The batting has been so naive and irresponsible, it has bordered on stupidity. Wafting drives at tempting outswingers is thoughtless.”
While Boycott mentioned that the Indian cricket team was awful in the first two Tests, he also claimed that the Test cricket is becoming a ridiculous mismatch.
Boycott wrote, “Test cricket is becoming a ridiculous mismatch with most teams winning at home and failing miserably abroad. India, the No 1 team in the world, have been awful in two Tests.”
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Mentioning the batting flaws, Boycott feels that the Indian batsmen haven’t done their homework to face the tough challenge in England.
The 77-year-old wrote, “Trying to work straight outswingers through midwicket and then being surprised when you get bowled or nick it to the slips is brainless. Playing the ball on the up in front of your pad is a no-no.
“These are elementary things you do not do against any decent swing bowler in English conditions. To try to do it to James Anderson, who is one of the great master craftsmen in those conditions, tells me the Indian batsmen have not done their homework. They have not sat down, talked or practiced in the nets and got their heads around how they are going to bat differently in England.”
The former English opening batsman believes that the Indian cricket team travelled England with complacently and arrogantly thinking while they have lack of planning to play cricket on the English soil.
Boycott added on that, “These guys are used to batting on flat, dry, non-bouncing pitches in India and plundering easy runs. The new ball does not do much and the shine does not last long. Batsmen are king and can play lots of shots straight away. India have come to England complacently and arrogantly thinking they can bat the same way and everything will be OK on the day.
“Well, it will not. Any time you do not plan and work at your cricket, the game will kick you up the backside, and India deserve the thrashing they are getting.”
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Boycott feels Indian cricket team can expect to face another tough Anderson bowling in the third Test, starting from this Saturday (August 18) at Trent Bridge, which is one of Anderson’s most successful Test venues.
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Boycott wrote, “Do not expect it to get any easier at Trent Bridge, because that is where Anderson excels. His bowling figures are exceptional in Nottingham and Stuart Broad will be up for the challenge with his home crowd behind him.”
