ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
England have soft underbelly and need some tough love. . .
We’ve seen a few times now that this england side have a soft underbelly — and we saw it again on a brilliant first day of the series against India at edgbaston.
Cruising one minute at 216 for three, they were soon scrambling around at 224 for six. It was a reminder of why Test cricket remains the best form of the game — and why this england side are in need of a bit of tough love if they’re going to move on to the next stage.
First up, we should take our hats off to virat Kohli. I said before this game that england had to beware his passion. We’ve heard about Kohli the batsman and Kohli the captain. But it was Kohli the fielder who changed the course of the match.
The way Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow had run between the wickets, it probably wasn’t unfair to assume there was a second run available after Bairstow had tucked Ravichandran Ashwin into the leg side.
But Kohli hared after the ball and threw it, off-balance — with just one-and-a-half stumps to aim at. It was a phenomenally athletic piece of fielding, and a classic example of how a captain can lift his side with one moment of brilliance.
I also loved his celebration. Basically, the guy doesn’t forget anything. After Root marked his hundred in the third one- day international at Headingley with that ‘mic- drop’ celebration, all the photos had Kohli in the background, quietly taking note of what he was watching.
And so he blew a couple of kisses, put his finger to his lips, dropped an imaginary mic and possibly swore. I don’t have a problem with any of that.
I thought it was ridiculous when Kagiso Rabada got done for shouting ‘f*** off’ after dismissing Ben Stokes at Lord’s last summer, especially because Rabada was probably just letting off steam at the situation rather than Stokes himself. I think Kohli was doing the same.
I like to see cricketers showing passion. They’re not robots — and these Indian guys are playing under so much pressure. Their fans should be happy that Kohli’s pumped up. He’s a dangerous beast when he is.
That said, england have let India off the hook. With Root and Bairstow looking set, things were going swimmingly. They were scoring big firstinnings runs, and giving Adil Rashid a total to work with later in the game. The script could not have been going any better.
I don’t necessarily blame Root or Bairstow for the run out. Nor do I blame Root for failing to convert yet another half-century. If anything, I have total admiration for the fact that, almost every time I look up, Root’s raising his bat to acknowledge yet another 50. But the truth is there were just too many soft dismissals. How many england batsmen were really got out?
Alastair Cook for sure. But Keaton Jennings and Bairstow both dragged on, Root was run out, Jos Buttler missed a straight one and Ben Stokes chipped a lame return catch.
Someone has to say enough is enough. And that’s why Root will be so frustrated that he couldn’t turn his 80 into 180.
Not enough players in this side are making big hundreds, and the best way for Root to establish his place as the leader of the team is to set that example.
If he doesn’t, others have to step up and recognise the need to seize the moment. That moment was at 216 for three. And, instead, it was Kohli who seized it.