Could England Be in Serious Trouble if India Perfects Their Bowling?

Birmingham, July 3 (NationPress) Former Indian fast bowler Varun Aaron has openly criticized the tactical approach and execution of England's bowling during the current Test match at Edgbaston. He indicated that the home team could find themselves in serious jeopardy if the Indian bowlers capitalize on their opportunities.

Despite attempts to adjust their bowling strategy, England has struggled to halt the run accumulation during India’s innings, particularly with captain Shubman Gill achieving his maiden double century in Test matches.

“There appears to be an absence of effective planning, and even when there is a strategy, its execution is lacking. A solid field setup is essential for creating pressure; at the very least, a point fielder should be positioned, yet England has conceded too many easy singles from the outset,” Aaron remarked on JioHotstar.

“This early concession provides comfort for a batsman who has just entered. Ben Stokes allowed that initial ease, and once the batsmen became established, England was left praying for a miracle, which they eventually obtained with a nearly unplayable delivery. However, Test cricket is not reliant on miracles.”

“Wickets are earned through sustained pressure over extended periods, and England has failed to achieve this. It may be premature to assert this, but if India gets their bowling right, England could indeed be in serious trouble — not only in this match but throughout the series,” he added.

Gill shared a remarkable 203-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Ravindra Jadeja, who scored 89 in the first session, before receiving support from Washington Sundar. Aaron praised India’s disciplined and aggressive batting approach, which has been evident since the morning.

“We emphasized the necessity for India to avoid losing wickets in the first session. Not only did they achieve that, but they also maintained a brisk scoring rate. Losing just one wicket throughout the session positions them favorably to control the Test's direction.”

“From England's viewpoint, there were hardly any fielders in catching positions. In Test cricket, a batsman tends to be more cautious when they see fielders positioned for close catches. However, England failed to create that pressure.”

“Consider Bashir, for instance — he bowled around the wicket, yet as an off-spinner, the minimum requirement is to have a slip fielder. There wasn’t even that, effectively communicating to Shubman Gill, ‘Feel free to reverse sweep or hit it — there’s no risk involved,’” he explained.

Gill now holds the record for the highest score by an Indian player in a men's Test match in England. Former England player Jonathan Trott expressed admiration for Gill’s shot selection and composure under the sunny conditions at Edgbaston.

“Given the talent Shubman possesses, performances like this are inevitable. He hasn’t appeared troubled at any moment during his innings. England has tried various tactics — drying up runs, employing short-ball strategies — but he has adeptly responded to every challenge, scoring freely across the ground.”

“As the first session came to a close, we witnessed him accelerating, particularly with that powerful sweep shot against the spinner. He seemed entirely in control, and I believe there’s a genuine sense of calm in the Indian dressing room as long as he remains at the crease.”

“That said, the game shifted dramatically following India’s loss of a wicket. Suddenly, England gained confidence. Washington Sundar faced pressure, and we observed an immediate momentum shift. That’s the allure of Test cricket — the fluctuations, the ongoing battle for dominance — and why it continues to mesmerize fans worldwide,” he concluded.