Former England skipper Alastair Cook opined that the fear of Bazball led to India’s lower order batters struggling in the IND vs ENG Test series. The Test veteran claimed that there was something in the current England side that caused chaos in the Indian line-up. The visitors need 332 runs on Day 4 to pick a win and move 2-0 up in the five-match series.
IND vs ENG: Cook attributes Indian lower order struggle to Bazball fear
Speaking to TNT Sports, Cook pointed out at Ashwin’s defensive attempts and said that any other side would have attempted to take the bowlers to the cleaners and try to get bowling. He added that while England’s chances of chasing 400 runs in the sub-continent was very, the Indian side would fear if Crawley, Stokes and Root got going.
“You’re almost seeing a little bit of the fear of Bazball,” Cook said. “They’re 400 runs ahead, but in the last half an hour they’ve had Ashwin blocking it almost as if every run were so important. And you think if it were against any other side, side’s I’ve led before and all that, this Indian side would be trying to crash this ball around the park with the tail and get bowling. There’s just something about this side which has caused a bit of chaos in the opposition, and India are so wary of this. The chances of England chasing 400 in the subcontinent in the fourth innings are very very low, but they just know that if Crawley gets going, Stokes gets going, Root gets going, it’s happened to them in the past.”
Cook further opined that the current Team India wasn’t playing their best cricket. He attributed the side’s intent to the lack of confidence that led the side to opt the protection strategy.
“It may also be a little bit of confidence in this India side, they’re not playing their best cricket, so they’re just giving themselves that extra bit of protection.”
