When discussing the just-finished Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, R. Ashwin was blunt in his criticism of England cricketers for disobeying the "cricketing gods." Ashwin blasted coach Brendon McCullum and England captain Ben Stokes for promoting what he saw as dangerous cricket.
This came after India clawed their way back in the fifth and final Test at the Oval, thanks to some amazing bowling by Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, and won the game by six runs. This was after a 195-run partnership between Joe Root and Harry Brook, both of whom scored centuries and almost brought England to the brink of victory.
“As a captain, as a coach, you can proclaim to the world that this is your brand of cricket. They can say that Brook played the way we wanted him to play, that he embraced our beliefs. All of this is easier said than done, but Test cricket needs a certain amount of balance. Yes, I agree that this approach got you runs in the first innings, but in the fourth innings, when you're batting on 100 and the finish line is in sight, it becomes your responsibility to see your team through,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
Ashwin pointed out Harry Brook’s reckless shot after scoring a fantastic century, which gave India an opening at The Oval. He stated that he could’ve walked off the Oval with Joe Root, celebrating a Test win and a Test series win as well.
“When he (Brook) walked in at 100/3, England was not in the game at all. He took chances against Akash Deep when England was staring down the barrel, and a big defeat was looming. But when he got out, it was a moment he could have cherished.
He could have walked out of The Oval with his bat held high alongside Joe Root, who was breaking record after record, and could have won the series 3-1 for England. But he played a reckless shot, and that punishment is why England lost the match and ended up drawing the series,” Ashwin stated.
He also stated that by showing this recklessness, England disrespected the cricketing gods, who instead helped India as conditions changed, aiding Siraj and Krishna.
“Brook definitely missed that opportunity. Everything fell on Root’s shoulders. And, fortunately for India, the conditions changed. Such things happen when the cricketing gods are disrespected. The way England disrespected the cricketing gods—even the clouds came together, cried on the pitch, and allowed the ball to move a lot,” Ashwin said.
India managed a close six-run win in the final Test and drew the five-match series 2-2.
