In a stunning turn of events, England faced a comprehensive and humiliating defeat within just three days on the final Test match against India.
Ravichandran Ashwin, in his 100th Test, showcased his brilliance by taking five wickets for 77 runs, leading India to victory by an innings and 64 runs.
The loss concluded England’s tour of India with a 4-1 series defeat, overshadowing the competitive spirit they displayed at times.
Setback for Stokes and McCullum Regime
While the series had already been secured by India, the 4-1 scoreline amplifies the challenges faced by the Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum leadership.
Despite their commendable efforts, this defeat extends England’s struggle in both red and white-ball cricket, posing a serious setback.
The last Test series victory for England dates back 15 months to Pakistan, and their limited-overs side faced disappointments in the World Cup and subsequent series against West Indies.
Anderson’s Milestone Amidst the Rout
The third day started on a positive note for England when Jimmy Anderson achieved a remarkable milestone by becoming the first seamer in Test history to reach 700 wickets.
However, this achievement was overshadowed by the impressive performance of India’s young bowler, Shoaib Bashir, who secured his second five-wicket haul in only his third Test.
Batting Collapse and Missed Opportunities
Despite Anderson’s historic feat, England’s batting collapsed, raising questions about their discipline and determination.
Ben Duckett’s aggressive approach backfired as he was comprehensively bowled by Ashwin. Zak Crawley, usually consistent, failed to defend and fell for a 16-ball duck.
Ollie Pope, despite a monumental innings earlier in the series, struggled to make an impact and fell to a loose slog sweep. Jonny Bairstow, desperate for a significant contribution in his 100th Test, hit three sixes but succumbed to a tight lbw decision.
Root’s Resistance in Vain
Joe Root, the only consistent batsman for England in this series, reached 84 but couldn’t prevent the inevitable.
The batting display reflected England’s overall struggles, with only three centuries across the entire tour.
Shoaib Bashir, showing promise with both bat and ball, provided some resistance but fell after a partnership with Root.
The innings concluded before tea, with England facing the grim reality of a challenging tour against an unbeaten India in 18 home series.
Reflections and Challenges Ahead
While there’s no suggestion of Stokes or McCullum’s job security, the white-ball coach Matthew Mott and captain Jos Buttler face pressure ahead of England’s Twenty20 World Cup title defense.
Cricket at the highest level remains results-driven, and England must grapple with the aftermath of a series that showcased both individual milestones and collective challenges.
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