Former Australian cricketer Ian Chappell was unhappy with England captain Joe Root, who didn’t declare England’s second innings in the opening Test-match between India and England.
The former Australia captain opined that Root missed out on sending a message, which could have given him a valuable psychological advantage later in the series.
England cricket team on Tuesday created history as they beat India in the first Test by 227 runs to take a lead in the four-match Test series. However, despite having first innings lead of over 350 England surprised many people with their approach to bat on day four when they were setting a total for India.
The visitors surprisingly chose to carry on batting until they were bowled out for 178 runs in their second innings. However, many pundits including Australian great Ian Chappell felt that the visitors took too long to declare.
Addressing Joe Root’s decision of not declaring former Australian cricketer Ian Chappell was disappointed with Root and said that despite having a brilliant game the latter failed to take the advantage and added that England should’ve pushed on aggressively in order to declare and set a target.
"Despite having a brilliant all-round game in the first Test, Root failed to take full advantage of England's superiority at a critical time in the game. Instead of oscillating between all-out attack and inexplicable defence in the late stages of their second innings, England should have pushed on aggressively in order to declare and set a target," Ian Chappell wrote for 'ESPNCricinfo'.
Chappell is of the opinion that Root should have declared the innings instead of getting all-out to send a message that the visitors aren't worried about India's batting lineup.
“This (declaration) would have sent a strong message to India: we are not worried by your much-vaunted batting line-up. If Root had declared instead of being bowled out.
"It could have provided him with a valuable psychological advantage later in the series. In sending a message of confidence it could easily have had an effect on a decision Virat Kohli has to make later in the series." he said.
With a commanding 227-run victory over India in the first Test in Chennai, England are at the top of the WTC table with 70.2 percentage points.
(ESPNCricinfo inputs)
