Root’s men caught in perfect storm and it’s a huge test to repair damage quickly
INDIA inflicted the quickest of kills in Ahmedabad — at least the quickest an England team have experienced for a century.
Now comes the even tougher part: three extra days of wound-licking as the gap before Thursday’s final Test yawns in front of the tourists.
Much has been said, and indeed done, about “bubble life”. Well, it has never been tougher than this. They are hurting, hotel-bound, and missing families. Last night, with Gujarat a dry state, they did not even have a beer to ease the pain, as English sportspeople like to do. That is a recipe for stew that Mary Berry will be proud of.
They know that when that game does finally arrive, the same form of torture awaits. With England now out of contention, India must win to reach the final of the World Test Championship at Australia’s expense (needing England to win — what a quandary for Aussie fans). Virat Kohli knows his side are significantly stronger in these conditions than England, so the Ahmedabad groundsman will surely be encouraged to down tools and let the sun dry the surface out. The opening victory in Chennai truly was one of England’s great victories, and it is only 18 days since fans and pundits were getting their knickers in a twist about “defensive” Joe Root taking too long to declare — what a luxury that seems now. That win has caused them all manner of trouble. In what is a compliment of sorts, India were always going to turn up the home advantage. Since, it has been thrilling viewing, albeit from behind the sofa for England fans.
For England, this week was the perfect storm: another pitch designed to disintegrate on first contact; a pink SG ball that fizzed on due to its extra plastic coating, contributing to all those bowleds and lbws; the quality of India’s spinners, Axar Patel and Ravichandran Ashwin, and their under cutters; and their own deep-running shortcomings on turning pitches (after all, they learnt the ropes in a County Championship that punishes teams for encouraging spin), exacerbated by the painful memories of last week.
In the DRS era, with pads no longer a line of defence, that is a potent situation to be in. Given they had never played with this pink ball, it was novel, too. The outcome was no surprise, but as Root said yesterday, they did have an opportunity: they won the toss, then found themselves 74 for two with two set batsmen at the crease. They lost eight for 38 (on the way to losing 18 for 119) and, with it, the Third Test. Even the achievement of bowling India out for 145 with one frontline spinner was not enough.
England have players to pick up. All that travelling appears to have scrambled Jonny Bairstow’s mind. Ollie Pope looks all at sea, especially against Ashwin. And then there is Dom Bess, who England have shown that they have little confidence in, but surely must return this week. Unless they decide Root is more use again, and call for an extra batsman.
Under Root, the wheels have never fallen off England’s wagon. Never that will be tested more.