'I have never understood the hype around Ben Stokes, the captain': Mohammad Kaif slams England skipper's decision-making in Edgbaston Test

Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif has made a cutting remark on England captain Ben Stokes' captaincy blunders in the Edgbaston Test of the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. India have been in the dominant position and England's strategy of choosing to bowl first despite the conditions being apt for batting, has been questioned by Kaif. He took a dig at Stokes on his batting performance as England captain was dismissed for a golden duck in the first innings. 

"I have never understood the hype around Ben Stokes the captain. On a flat track with sun shining he decides to bowl, today with some life in pitch edges flying but no extra slip. Batsmen took England to win in first Test but Stokes didn't score many. Please inform if I have missed any of his hidden leadership master stroke," he wrote on X.

England chase history

At the end of the Day 4, India broke their record of most runs scored in a Test. They scored 1,014 runs combined across both the innings. In the last session of Day 4, India declared at 427/6, thereby set a target of 608 for England. While England had already lost their openers Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley alongside Joe Root, on the final day they face an uphill task of scoring 537 runs to win the Test or bat out the entire day.

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If England are aiming to pull off the chase, they'll have to create the world record of the highest successful run chase in the history of the format. The record for the biggest chase is held by West Indies, who chased 418 against Australia in 2003 at Antigua Recreation Ground. The highest run chase for England was achieved in 1948 when they chased down 404 against Australia at Headingley, Leeds.

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Win or lose or draw all the way?

Under Stokes' captaincy England have won 21 of the 34 Tests, lost 12 and drawn one under rain-hit circumstances. Considering the colossal target set by the visitors, they  are expected to play for a draw on Day 5. 

Even in the press conference after Day 4's play, England assistant coach Marcus Trescothick said that they will play according to the situation and it is not just win or lose for them, a perception created by the media.