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In a record-shattering clash at Edgbaston that saw a staggering 1,692 runs piled on, on what’s now being dubbed as one of the flattest tracks of this century in England. India handed England a resounding 336-run drubbing. The pitch, initially offering some assistance, soon morphed into a belter with ‘sub-continentent’ undertones, much to the frustration of home captain Ben Stokes. Only once in Test history has England witnessed more runs in a single match. According to Cricviz, the Edgbaston surface now ranks as the fourth flattest pitch in England since pitch data began being tracked in 2005.
In spite of a Bazball-style counterattack that saw England rack up 407 at over 4.50 runs an over in reply to India’s colossal 587 after choosing to bowl, Three Lions were ultimately outplayed in all departments. The visitors, led by a sensational Shubman Gill, made the most of the docile strip. The 25-year-old from Punjab engraved his name into Test folklore by becoming the first batter to notch both a double century 269 and a follow-up 150 in the same match. His match resulted in a total of 430 is now the second-highest in Test history.
India didn’t just bat England out of the game, they dismantled them with the ball too. While England’s quicks toiled for wickets, India’s pace battery, spearheaded by a fiery Akash Deep 10 wickets and a lethal Mohammed Siraj (6/84 in the first innings), outshone the hosts completely. The Indian seamers grabbed 17 of the 20 wickets, while England’s pacers could manage only eight across both innings. India’s remarkable feat of scoring over 1,000 runs and claiming all 20 wickets in the same Test is only the second of its kind in the game’s rich history. Australia previously managed it twice, in 1938 and 1969.
Batting Paradise with Sub-Continent traits
When asked by BBC’s Test Match Special if England were keen to play more games on such flat decks, Stokes gave a candid response
“To be honest, it’s probably ended up being more of a subcontinent pitch as it got deeper and deeper into the game. There was certainly a little bit in it to start off with and I think we exposed that very very well early on,” the English skipper said.
England conceded a total of 376 runs after having them at 211 for five at one stage, but the floodgates opened from there. Gill’s masterclass was supported ably by Ravindra Jadeja’s gritty 89 and Washington Sundar’s handy 42. The hosts could do little to halt the Indian juggernaut.
Stokes added, “Then just as it sort of got deeper and deeper, it just became a real tough slug for us and obviously with the Indian attack and the conditions that they’re used to, they were sort of used to and knew sort of how to expose those conditions just sort of a little bit better than us and that can happen sometimes. But yeah, it’s nothing to be too disheartened about. We can take being out-skilled and we’ve certainly been out-skilled this week.”
McCullum regrets decision at the toss
England’s head coach Brendon McCullum admitted to a misstep in strategy, particularly at the toss.
“I think, as the game unfolded, we probably looked back on that toss and said did we miss an opportunity there and it’s probably fair. We didn’t expect that the wicket would play quite as it did and hence we probably got it slightly wrong. But we did have them 200 for 5 and we weren’t able to capitalise on that position and when you win the toss and bowl you’re hoping to, well you’re not anticipating the opposition’s going to score 580 and then from that point we’re behind the game,” he reflected.
The two sides will lock horns again in the third Test at Lord’s starting on July 10, with England looking to bounce back from a comprehensive mauling and India riding high on momentum and mastery.
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