Aakash Chopra has expressed disappointment with England’s batting performance in the second innings of the third Test against India in Rajkot.
On Day 4 (Sunday, February 18), India set England a massive target of 557 runs in the third Test. The hosts then bowled out Ben Stokes and the England team for just 122 runs, securing a commanding 434-run victory and taking a 2-1 lead in the five-Test series.
What are you doing? You are playing sweeps against Ravindra Jadeja at the pace he bowls- Aakash Chopra
In his video on YouTube, Aakash Chopra strongly criticized England’s batting performance on the fourth day of the third Test against India. He elaborated on their shortcomings and highlighted the key issues that led to their collapse.
England’s batting was a letdown. The way they played was extremely ordinary. (Ben) Duckett got run out. Dhruv Jurel’s collection was very good. Zak Crawley would say that he was unfortunate, that he shouldn’t have been given out – no problem, that’s okay.”
“Ollie Pope was trying to play a cut shot and it went to hand. Joe Root was playing the sweep and the ball hit his pads. Jonny Bairstow also did the same thing. What are you doing? You are playing sweeps against Ravindra Jadeja at the pace he bowls,” the former India opener added.
Ben Duckett was run out after a mix-up with Zak Crawley, while Crawley was given out lbw off Jasprit Bumrah’s bowling. The ball-tracking system indicated that the ball would have just clipped the leg bail. Ravindra Jadeja then took the wickets of Ollie Pope, caught by Rohit Sharma at first slip, and trapped both Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root leg-before-wicket, reducing England to 50/5.
Mark Wood scored 33 runs in the end or else this team wouldn’t have even scored 100- Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra observed that Mark Wood’s late aggressive cameo added some respectability to England’s total. He said,
Then Ben Stokes, Ben Foakes and Rehan Ahmed. Rehan Ahmed was trying to hit a six. With what thinking have you come? Mark Wood scored 33 runs in the end or else this team wouldn’t have even scored 100.”
The cricket-turned-commentator added that the visitors lasted for only 39.4 overs on a decent pitch in the third Test against India.
You couldn’t bat 50 overs. You didn’t play one-and-a-half sessions. We are on daily wages, take a little care of us. We only get paid for the number of days we work. This wasn’t a 40-overs pitch. This was a much better surface and England actually let themselves down very badly,” Chopra stated.
Jadeja was the wrecker-in-chief with the ball for India, claiming 5/41. Kuldeep Yadav picked up two wickets, while Jasprit Bumrah and Ravichandran Ashwin accounted for a dismissal each.
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