India vs England 4th Test: Nasser Hussain, the former England captain, reflects on the thrilling third day of the Ranchi Test, highlighting India cricket team impressive performance and offering insights for England’s future approach. He also compared ‘approach’ of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for Team India.
England’s Missed Chance:
Hussain acknowledges England’s missed opportunity in his column in Daily Mail. The eighth-wicket partnership between Dhruv Jurel and Kuldeep Yadav significantly reduced their lead, putting them on the back foot. This shift in momentum mirrored situations England themselves had exploited under the “Bazball” approach, leaving them unsure of their strategy.
Learning from India Cricket Team:
Hussain emphasizes the vital lesson England can learn from the successful Indian batsmen in this Test – their willingness to play spin on the front foot. He contrasts this with the struggles of Ben Stokes, who remained on the back foot, leading to his dismissal by deliveries that didn’t bounce significantly.
Crawley’s Success and Bairstow’s Missed Opportunity:
Hussain praises Zak Crawley’s exceptional technique, crediting his height and proactive approach for minimizing the spin’s impact.
He identifies Jonny Bairstow’s dismissal as a missed chance, suggesting his power game could have been more effective later in the innings. He also proposes a potential batting order tweak, with Bairstow and Ben Foakes swapping positions for better strategic utilization.
India’s Burning Desire ft Rohit Sharma
Hussain commends India’s exceptional performance, highlighting their aggressive bowling strategy with Ravichandran Ashwin opening the attack. He emphasizes the “fire in his eyes” and the team’s overall hunger to win, compensating for the absence of Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah.
“Rohit Sharma cares deeply, even if he doesn’t always show it in the same way as Virat Kohli, and on the third day India showed their character as well as their class,” Hussain wrote in his column.
A Series of Grit and Character:
Hussain concludes by appreciating the showcase of character and competitive spirit from both sides throughout the series. He finds this a key factor in making the series compelling for viewers.
Overall, Hussain’s analysis highlights the learnings for England while recognizing the unwavering determination and strategic brilliance that fueled India’s dominance on Day 3 in Ranchi.
