England Head coach Brendon McCullum acknowledged that the hosts were unable to play as they had planned and also lost a toss opportunity after England lost to India by 336 runs in the second Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy Test at Edgbaston.
Stokes and his side attempted to put up a fight as they chased a record 608, but with more than a session of play remaining on day five, they were bowled out for 271. Captain Shubman Gill struck 269 and 161 to lead India to a series-leveling victory, while Akash Deep claimed ten wickets.
“We ran second for five days. I thought India played exceptionally well. Shubman Gill was at an elite level and played brilliantly on this pitch. We weren’t quite able to play how we wanted to on it and they thoroughly deserved to win.
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 200-5 and we weren’t able to capitalize 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," said McCullum to BBC Test Match Special after the game.
He also praised Harry Brook and Jamie Smith for their massive 303-run stand in the first innings.
“It was only a brilliant partnership from Jamie Smith and Harry Brook that gave us any balance in the game throughout the five days. That’s something we’ve got to look at. We’re not rigid with our plans.
It’s just we thought this pitch might get better to bat on as we went through the five days but as we saw it didn’t. Two very simple players. They’ve got good set-ups, good techniques, and they like to hit the ball and put pressure on the opposition.
It’s easy to do when you’re well in front of the game but when you’re 80-5, to still stay true to your policy and stay true to your game to give yourself the best chance shows just how mentally strong they are as well. Both of them played exceptionally well. The rest of us weren’t able to enter the game and have any real impact on it," he elaborated.
Asked if England missed an opportunity to secure a win in Jasprit Bumrah’s absence, McCullum stated, “I thought Akash Deep bowled outstandingly on that surface. Obviously growing up playing on those types of wickets, he hit his length and was able to utilize the surface where he could.
He was exceptional. Bumrah will more than likely come back in for the next one so we’ve just got to make sure we’re well planned and well prepared and ready for the next challenge. It will be quite different I imagine to this surface and that’s probably a good thing for us."
He concluded by saying Jofra Archer is ready for the third Test at Lord’s, starting on July 10.
“He’s fit and ready to go and obviously the other boys have had two Test matches on the spin now so you’d anticipate you would make a change at some stage with the line-up and Jofra is one we’ll look at,” McCullum signed off.
(IANS inputs)
