Team India lost the Leeds Test match by 5 wickets.
Indian bowlers faced criticism after the 5-wicket defeat in the first Test against England at Leeds. Former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin has given a befitting reply to these critics and defended the bowlers. In this match, four Indian batsmen scored five centuries, but except for the lower order and Jasprit Bumrah, the contribution of other bowlers was very less. Ashwin called the comments made on the bowlers insulting and also questioned the responsibility of the batsmen.
What did R Ashwin say about the bowlers?
In a video on his YouTube channel, Ashwin said that after the defeat in Leeds, there was an attempt to blame the bowlers for the defeat. He said that England achieved a target of more than 370 runs in the fourth innings, but it was not only the bowlers’ fault. Ashwin said, “After chasing 370+ runs, the Indian bowlers were humiliated in the commentary. The story was made that the bowlers could not win the match. But the batsmen should also take responsibility.”
Responsibility of the batsmen and failure of the lower order
Ashwin questioned the batsmen and said, “We scored five centuries, but where was the ‘Daddy Hundred’ (big century innings)? We have to accept that there was no contribution in batting from the lower order.” He emphasized that the batsmen should also have played their role, especially the lower order, whose performance was disappointing.
Ashwin’s opinion on bowling strategy
On bowling, Ashwin said, “The importance of maiden overs is underestimated in Tests. I have no problem with Bumrah’s high economy rate, but the other bowlers should control the run rate. In Tests, bowling has to be developed gradually from the first day, which benefits in the last innings.” However, he admitted that Indian bowling lagged behind in this matter.
FAQ
What did R Ashwin say about the Leeds Test loss?
Ravichandran Ashwin stated that the main reason for India’s defeat in the Leeds Test was the failure of the batsmen, not the bowlers. He emphasized that the team couldn’t put enough runs on the board.
Did Ashwin criticize any individual player?
No, Ashwin did not point fingers at any specific batsman. His comments were more about the overall team performance with the bat.
How did India’s batting perform in the Leeds Test?
India’s batting collapsed in one or both innings, leading to a low total and putting pressure on the bowlers to defend a small score.
What was the role of the bowlers in that match?
Ashwin mentioned that the bowlers did their job reasonably well but were not given enough runs to defend, making it hard to win the match.
What was the final result of the Leeds Test?
India lost the match by a significant margin, and the defeat was seen as a setback in the series.