EOIN BOYS IN A SPIN
ENGLAND were given harsh warning of tough times ahead this summer after once again being tied up in knots by Indian spin.
Just three-and-a-half weeks after flaying Australia’s bowlers to all parts of this ground while racking up a record one day total of 481, Eoin Morgan’s side collapsed against left-arm leg-spinner Kuldeep Yadav, who took 6-25.
It was another night of records for the Trent Bridge fans but this time it was the best figures by a spinner in England, or against England anywhere in the world.
And England’s chances in next summer’s World Cup look a lot less rosy after both of Kuldeep’s spells claimed three wickets apiece, limiting them to 268 all out.
It was a target India polished off with ease. Rohit Sharma shared a 167-run partnership with his captain Virat Kohli for the second wicket on his way to an unbeaten 137. India won with eight wickets and 59 balls to spare against an England side already shorn of run machine Alex Hales, who will miss the whole one-day series because of a torn muscle in his left side.
England must quickly find a plan to counter 23-year-old Kuldeep. Another defeat at Lord’s on Saturday will see them lose a home series for the first time since Australia in 2015.
Challenge
“Kuldeep had a pretty good day at the office,” said England captain Morgan.
“Playing spin against India is a challenge we will hopefully improve on but today we were off the mark.
“Lord’s might be different but Kuldeep extracted more turn out of this pitch than any other spinner.”
Kuldeep could give England nightmares in the Test series too.
He came on in the 10th over and immediately struck when Jason Roy was caught reverse sweeping his second ball. When Root and Bairstow followed him lbw he had three wickets for seven runs in 10 deliveries.
Kuldeep reduced England from 73-0 to 82-3 and when fellow leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal struck to remove Morgan, England were struggling.
Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler went on the counter-attack so well that Kohli took Kuldeep off.
But after a partnership of 93 for the fifth wicket, Kuldeep came back on and immediately got rid of Buttler.
Stokes was his fifth victim after a patchy 103-ball 50 and David Willey the sixth.
Even after that Kohli wasn’t giving anything away about Test selection.
He said: “We still have a few days to pick the Test side but he is making a strong case for himself, as has Chahal.
“Both of them are pretty lethal for us and looking at the English batsmen struggling against them we might be tempted.”