Former Indian coach Ravi Shastri criticised India’s bowling performance during the second day of the final Test against England at The Oval, as England dominated the proceedings reaching 109/1 at lunch. After India managed to add only 20 runs to their overnight score before being dismissed for 224, England’s opening pair of Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley put on an impressive 92-run partnership.India’s morning started poorly as they lost their remaining wickets quickly, adding just 20 runs to their total. Gus Atkinson was the standout bowler for England, claiming a five-wicket haul with figures of 5/33, while Josh Tongue supported well with 3/57.
The English openers then took control, scoring at nearly seven runs per over. Crawley remained unbeaten on 52 off 43 balls with 12 fours, while Ollie Pope was batting on 12. Duckett contributed a quick 43 off 38 balls, including five fours and two sixes.“The game has moved forward and India have been blown away. They lost four wickets for 20 runs, and then England scored so quickly,” Shastri said on Sky Sports. “That is alarming for India, so they will sit down and say, ‘let us focus on where we want to bowl’. The batters will try different things, but India needs to stick to a line and length and build pressure at both ends, not try too many things.”Former England captain Ricky Ponting observed that England “could not have asked for much more.” He added, “The disappointing thing from India’s point of view is how much the ball has done, and they have not been able to use that at all. We have watched England be front-foot and take the game forward over the last four or five years and they have done that perfectly today. They have scored at almost seven runs an over.”
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Ponting further noted the Indian bowling strategy’s shortcomings. “They also have not bowled enough bouncers, something we talked about in the last game [at Emirates Old Trafford]. They have not pushed the batters back and got them thinking,” he said.Earlier in the match, after England won the toss and bowled first, India struggled at 153/6. The highest partnership came between Karun Nair, who scored 57 off 109 balls with eight fours, and Washington Sundar, who made 26 off 55 balls with three fours, adding 58 runs together.The duo’s partnership proved to be the most substantial contribution to India’s innings before they were eventually bowled out for 224. At lunch on Day 2, England had reached 109/1, with Crawley and Pope at the crease.
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