Indian batting has been stupid: Boycott
London, Aug. 14: Former England opener Geoffrey Boycott was scathing in his criticism of the Indian team, terming the visitors’ batting performance “naive, irresponsible and bordering on stupidity”.
“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,” Boycott wrote in his column for the Daily Telegraph.
Boycott, who had famously coined the moniker ‘Prince of Calcutta’ for former India captain Sourav Ganguly, felt that the Indian batsmen lack application while trying to flick outswingers, referring to Murali Vijay’s mode of dismissals.
“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,” wrote Boycott. As has been the common refrain, Boycott also opined that Indian batsmen have not done their homework as the manner of dismissals indicate. “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 practised in the nets and got their heads around how they are going to bat differently in England.” Boycott, who has 8000 plus runs in Test cricket, stopped short of calling the Indians flat track bullies. “These guys are used to batting on flat, dry, nonbouncing 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. 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.”
So far, the Indian players have let themselves down. The batting has been so naive and irresponsible, it has bordered on stupidity. Wafting drives at tempting outswingers is thoughtless. — GEOFFREY BOYCOTT