Former England captain Alastair Cook commended the impressive performance of English spinners on Day 2 of the fourth Test match between IND and ENG. Cook expressed that it was the most outstanding display of spin bowling by England in a considerable time. During the second day, England’s spin duo, Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir, bowled a combined total of 51 overs out of India’s 73, claiming 6 of the 7 wickets that fell. The host team concluded Day 2 at 219/7.
Shoaib Bashir particularly stood out as he dismantled the Indian top and middle order, dismissing players like Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rajat Patidar, and Ravindra Jadeja. Meanwhile, Tom Hartley contributed with 2 wickets, dismissing Sarfaraz Khan and Ravichandran Ashwin. At one point, Bashir delivered consecutive overs and only took a break for a single over due to a change of ends.
Alastair Cook, speaking on TNT Sports, praised England’s spinners, stating, “This is the best I’ve seen England spinners bowl for a long time.” Cook emphasized the significant role of the captain in setting the field but highlighted that effective bowling is crucial for success.
Reflecting on the 2016 India tour, Cook recalled the team’s tendency to release pressure with a poorly bowled ball in an over. He noted that England’s spinners had shown improvement, avoiding such lapses in the recent performance. Cook acknowledged that England has been successful against Indian spinners and credited their spin quartet—Tom Hartley, Rehan Ahmed, Shoaib Bashir, and Joe Root—for troubling the Indian batsmen.
Shifting focus to individual performances, Tom Hartley played a pivotal role in England’s victory in the first Test in Hyderabad, securing nine wickets, including a seven-wicket haul in the second innings. Meanwhile, Shoaib Bashir showcased his skill in the fourth Test, restricting Indian batsmen. Bashir accounted for the dismissals of Shubman Gill and Rajat Patidar and also removed Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ravindra Jadeja, preventing them from asserting control.
As the match advances into Days 4 and 5, the pitch is expected to slow down, presenting a formidable challenge for Indian batsmen to pursue a target in the fourth innings, much like the scenarios witnessed in the preceding three games. England faced difficulties in chasing during the second and third Tests, while India fell short in the first Test.
With the pitch favoring a slower pace, England stands a reasonable chance of securing a victory and thereby leveling the series. On the contrary, India is eager to clinch the series and maintain their unbeaten record at home in winning Test series.
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