Shastri demands batsmen show ‘character, discipline’
had contributions from skipper Joe Root (80), Jonny Bairstow (70, 93), Sam Curran (63) and Chris Woakes (137 no) with the bat.
KOHLI ON THE MEND
Shastri said Kohli, who struggled with back stiffness in the Lord’s Test, was on course to playing in the third Test at Trent Bridge on Saturday. “Kohli… he is feeling much better. You saw him in the nets, he is moving much better and improving by the day.” Rishabh Pant making his Test debut? “About Rishabh you will know 11 am day after.”
The technique of Indian batsmen was found out in the first two Tests though Shastri stressed on staying mentally strong despite trailing 0-2.
STOKES IS BACK
India will have a fresh headache as all-rounder Ben Stokes, acquitted of affray charges by a Bristol court on Tuesday, is back in the England squad. There is furious debate whether England should welcome Stokes back this soon and England coach Trevor Bayliss was bombarded with questions on this.
Shastri said: “We focus on cricket. He is a terrific cricketer, we would like to play against top cricketers. If he has been cleared by the courts, what is the reason for him not to play? If I was in England’s position I would have wanted him to play.”
He admitted picking Chinaman bowler, Kuldeep Yadav, ahead of a third paceman at Lord’s was a mistake. Neither Kuldeep or R Ashwin took a wicket, and England leg-spinner Adil Rashid did not bowl.
“In hindsight, it was an error. We should have gone, seeing the conditions, with an extra seamer. It might have helped. Then again, you didn’t know how much it would rain, whether a match could go into the final day where just in case a spinner is needed and the ball starts to turn, would we have needed him.”