Old Australian captain Ricky Ponting gave a strongly-worded criticism of India's bowling approach on the second day of the fourth Test against England at Manchester's Old Trafford, labeling their performance as a tactical flop.
While relatively unfavourable conditions for bowlers, India's seamers were not able to take advantage of the new ball, and England openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley dominated early cricket. The pair put together an unearthing 166-run opening stand which had Indian skipper Shubman Gill struggling with control.
Ponting, while commentating for Sky Sports, was most unhappy with India's decision-making throughout. He was surprised at the decision to give the new ball to debutant Anshul Kamboj in place of experienced pacer Mohammed Siraj.
"They were scored off on both sides of the wicket, didn't they?" Ponting said. "We generally discussed then about how they played to Pope. I believe that they were tactically off too. I don't believe Kamboj should have had the new ball. Yeah, I didn't enjoy that from the beginning. Duckett struck five of his initial six boundaries in back square on the leg side. So they got it tactically wrong there."
While Jasprit Bumrah was frugal and contained the runs, Ponting was critical of the end at which he bowled. Most of the wickets had come from the Statham End, said the former Australia captain, but Bumrah was impressed to be bowling from the Anderson End for most of his spells.
"Even watching now, Bumrah, I believe, is bowling from the wrong end," Ponting observed. "All the wickets, the majority of the wickets, have been got from the Statham End. And he's done most of his work bowling from the Anderson End. So they've been off execution-wise. And I think tactically have been a bit off as well."
India had previously scored a total of 358, but their bowling did not hold England back in the first few hours of Day 2. Duckett just fell short of a century, getting out on 94 after edging one behind to keeper Dhruv Jurel — Kamboj's first Test wicket. Crawley, on the other hand, got out for 84, being lured into a drive by a Ravindra Jadeja delivery that he edged to KL Rahul.
At stumps, England was rock-solid at 225/2, behind India by 133 runs and well in charge going into Day 3.
Read also| Stokes’ 5-for Holds India to 358 Despite Gritty 54 from Pant in 4th Test
