Former England cricketer Michael Vaughan expressed his frustration after the team’s torrid outing on Day 3 of the ongoing third Test in Rajkot. He said Ben Stokes & Co. have been taught a lesson that Test cricket is played in ebbs and flows.
At the end of day 2, the Rajkot Test between India and England It was evenly balanced. To be fair, the visitors were way ahead of the game and looked like they would take the game away from the Indian team on Day 3, especially as the track was good for batting.
Ben Duckett put England in command mode in the game and was expected to set the stage on fire on Day 3. He reached his 150 but couldn’t go big after that. There’s nothing to take away from him as he did his job, but the way other batsmen batted put pressure on the visitors.
Joe Root was the first wicket to fall on Day 3 and the way he got out, it was an unnecessary shot when he got out while playing reverse scoop. His wicket led to the collapse as the batsmen then threw down their wickets and allowed the Indian bowlers to pressure them.
Kuldeep Yadav also contributed and picked two wickets, removing Ben Duckett and Jonny Bairstow for a duck. Captain Ben Stokes (41) looked good but died while attempting a great shot.
After the opposing captain’s wicket, it was Mohammed Siraj who took charge and concluded the English innings. Mohammed Siraj picked four wickets and helped India finish off England in an innings of 319 runs. By the way, the visitors batted on Day 2, they were expected to take the lead in the first innings, but it didn’t happen and they were also to blame.
“I just wish they had a little common sense sometimes” – Michael Vaughan on England
With England showing a torrid outing with the bat on Day 3, former player Michael Vaughan was furious. He pointed out that although Bazball is demanding, sometimes they need to use common sense.
Michael Vaughan feels England’s attacking approach will cost them the game and noted that the team needs to have temperament and ability to bat for a long time, which they failed to achieve. Speaking to BBC Sport, he explained:
“England have been taught a lesson today that Test cricket is played in ebbs and flows. The exciting and adventurous Bazballing is worth getting up to see at 4 a.m.but I wish they had a little common sense sometimes.
“It’s going to cost them the game; they should have enough temperament and skill to hit most of the day and they failed.”
England conceded a lead of 126 in the first innings and after that, they were bad with the ball. India’s batsmen bowled sensationally with Yashasvi Jaiswal hitting a ton and Shubman Gill unbeaten on 65. At stumps, India were 196/2 and ahead by 322 runs.
