After a promising start to the five-match Test series, England hit a wall in the second Test at Edgbaston.
With India outplaying them in almost every department, the visitors levelled things up 1-1—and quite convincingly at that.
England fans hoping for a final-day miracle were left disappointed, as the team was bowled out for 271, still 337 runs short of their mountainous 608-run target.
Let’s take a look at the big talking points from the Test, courtesy of Mail Sport’s David Lloyd, also known as Bumble.
England Were Rolling in the Deep
Time to cue the Adele soundtrack—England were well and truly “Rolling in the Deep” in this one.
There were flashes of potential, signs that they might dig themselves out, but India’s Akash stole the show.
He ripped through their lineup, leaving behind bruised egos and plenty of regrets.
It felt like England almost had it all—until reality struck.
When they arrive at Lord’s, they’ll be feeling the scars from Edgbaston.
Pitch Complaints Begin to Bubble
Some murmurs are starting to come out of the England dressing room about the Edgbaston pitch.
Word is, too much grass was shaved off, which handed the advantage straight to India’s pacers.
While India’s shorter bowlers used the surface smartly, England’s taller fast men struggled to make it bite.
Instead of hitting the deck hard and getting movement, they were left dealing with a pitch that blunted their weapons.
Bumrah’s Return Will Raise the Stakes
Here’s the scary bit—India pulled off this win without Jasprit Bumrah, arguably the best fast bowler in the world.
England’s top order didn’t show up, with five out of six failing to fire.
Zak Crawley continues to frustrate with his inconsistency, Ollie Pope looked out of sorts again, and even Joe Root had a quiet match, which is rare.
If that’s how they performed without Bumrah on the scene, what happens when he returns at Lord’s? England will need to be much sharper.
Time to Rethink the Bowling Attack
Let’s not go too hard on the batters this time—because the real discussion lies in England’s bowling choices.
Shoaib Bashir was once again taken to the cleaners by India’s batters, and changes look inevitable.
There are a few names waiting in the wings: Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson (if fit), and Sam Cook could all offer something new.
And when it comes to spin, Liam Dawson is due another shot, Rehan Ahmed’s had a solid domestic season, and even Jacob Bethell might be a better option than what we’ve seen so far.
Come On, Feed the Press!
On a lighter (and slightly cheeky) note, Bumble had a bone to pick—not with the players, but with the catering.
Test match journalism, he jokes, is hard work, and you can’t do it on an empty stomach.
With budget cuts hitting the press food supply at Test grounds, even a humble sandwich has become a rare treat.
And considering English cricket is about to receive a £500 million windfall from the sale of The Hundred, surely they can spare a few quid for some bread and bacon rolls?
Don’t Forget the Forgotten Openers
One final point worth raising—what about the former openers who have been left out in the cold? Dom Sibley, Haseeb Hameed, and Alex Lees are all having terrific seasons but seem nowhere near the England setup.
Sibley’s averaging 75 for Surrey, Hameed has 848 runs at 70 for Notts, and Lees is going strong with 741 at 53 for Durham.
Hameed has even upped his strike rate, showing he’s expanded his game. You have to wonder—are these lads being overlooked simply because of old impressions?
What’s Next for England?
With the series now level and Lord’s on the horizon, England will need a strong response.
The batting needs consistency, the bowling attack likely needs fresh legs, and the confidence needs a serious reset.
Whether that includes selection shake-ups or just a return to basics, one thing is clear: India are here to play—and they’re not backing down.
