Former England cricketer Stuart Broad believes that India captain Shubman Gill could break Brian Lara's record for highest individual Test score of 400. The 25-year-old, delivered a magnificent double hundred, scoring a historic 269 against England at Edgbaston, Birmingham.
The stellar performance by the India skipper left Stuart Broad spell bounded. He praised the Punjab-born player and referred to him as successor of Virat Kohli, as he was moved to number four position after the retirement of the former India captain. He highlighted that in Edgbaston Test it seemed that Gill doesn't have any weaknesses for England bowlers to exploit.
“I think India were ten out of ten. Sometimes in Test match cricket, when you get such a one-sided result, it’s easy to be critical of the other team which is England at this time, but India were just superb. Shubman Gill 269, honestly it looked like he could have got Lara’s record. He was just cruising. It didn’t look like anything could trouble him. Goodness me that move to four, spent most of his career opening the batting, moved to number four since Kohli has retired and gone to a hundred, big double, big 150. Looks like he’s got no weaknesses at all,” Broad said, speaking on the 'For the love of cricket' podcast with Jos Buttler.
Gill's 269-run knock included 30 boundaries and 3 sixes. He became the first Indian and Asian captain to score a double hundred in a Test match in England. He broke a plethora of records as India registered maiden win at Edgbaston. The massive 336-run helped India level the five-match Test series at 1-1.
Broad criticises England's lack of defense
Broad was left disappointed by the lack of application showed by England batters to attempt and draw the Test, especially after delayed start to Day 5 due to rain.
“England could have drawn it (Test). They had to bat 80-odd overs due to the rain. I think they’ll be a bit disappointed they didn’t manage to do that. There was nothing in the surface that was a really sort of worn fifth-day pitch. They’ll be disappointed they didn’t show little more craft in the defense,” Broad said.
India will lock horns with England for the third Test at the iconic venue, Lord's, London starting July 10.