A Report Card On India's Defeat
Aug 1, 2014, 10:45 IST
After the high of Lord's, the low at Southampton. Following India's 266-run defeat at Ageas Bowl on Friday, gocricket.com assesses how each of the 11 players fared.
Murali Vijay
Vijay followed his defiant batting at Lord's - 24 and 95 - with a stumbling performance. He looked out of sorts against James Anderson on day three and perished for 34 to a moment of indecision to Stuart Broad. Worse, though, was Vijay's lethargic run out for 12 in the second innings. After two strong games, a low can be excused to an extent. And Vijay is a batsman who finds a way out of a slump.
Shikhar Dhawan
Vijay's opening partner has looked out of sorts in England and his place in the XI is now in jeopardy ahead of the Old Trafford Test. Six innings, 122 runs, highest of 37 in the second innings at Southampton. The cracks in his technique were again exposed by Anderson in the first innings, while in the second Dhawan fell to Joe Root's part-time offspin. Looks far removed from the dasher who bullied Australia in Mohali and stood tall in New Zealand. Has Dhawan exhausted whatever faith the management has in him?
Cheteshwar Pujara
India's No 3 had his poorest match of the series. Was tested by a fiery Anderson in the first innings where he looked uncomfortable against his bounce. Fell to a rising delivery from Broad that he failed to negotiate, and was caught behind when trying to weave out the ball's way. In the second, with India staring at a mountain, Pujara nicked off against Moeen Ali for two. Pujara has not looked as shaky in Tests as he has in England. His rock-solid technique is being tested.
Virat Kohli
India's superstar showed signs of shrugging off his poor form in this Test, but twice squandered starts. His dismissal to Anderson in India's first innings was an extension of a nagging problem - the corridor of uncertainty outside off stump. His dismissal to Ali's offbreaks in the second was just downright ordinary. How Kohli fares in the next two Tests could impact whether he is regarded as a truly exceptional player or just a good one.
Ajinkya Rahane
India's best batsman, with two fifties. Looked good during his first-innings 54 until he made a mess of a long hop from Ali. Batted 121 balls for 52 not out in the second, the only Indian to cross 37. Goes to Old Trafford the most confident player of the team.
Rohit Sharma
The case of India's most frustrating batsman continued. Drafted in for his first Test in England, in place of allrounder Stuart Binny, Rohit found himself no further fans with a silly dismissal to Ali in the first innings. Shortly before tea, Rohit dashed out and lofted to mid-off, then sunk to his knees in despair. In the second, he made six before falling early on day five, edging off Anderson. Could be swapped for Binny in a week's time.
His biggest lapse in this match was falling early on day four, when India needed to bat out time. On 50 overnight, and with two tailenders remaining, India's captain hooked at one from Anderson and top-edged to the wicketkeeper. He failed to add a run to his total and India's innings lasted 25 balls. Was flat in the field, letting the game slip away. As often in the past, when teams start to attack, Dhoni eases into defensive mode and this was glaring here too. Needs to shake himself and the team up.
Ravindra Jadeja
Was India's leading wicket-taker in this Test but his left-arm spin was very ordinary, and the way Bell and debutant Jos Buttler took Jadeja apart in England's first innings was striking. His wickets either owed to poor shots, wrong calls or the need for quick runs. He got Cook for 95 with a short ball down the leg side; Buttler heaved and missed when the declaration was imminent; Gary Ballance was incorrectly given out; Bell and Root both went looking for quick runs in the second innings. Jadeja conceded 205 runs in 56.2 overs (economy rate 3.65) and with the bat, made 31 and 15. Calls for R Ashwin to play in his place have grown louder.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
No doubt, his average returns had a direct link to India's loss. Struggled to show the consistency and determination of the first two Tests, taking four wickets for 160 runs and scoring 19 and 0. A failure was around the corner, and the fatigue showed on Bhuvneshwar when he walked off the field Wednesday.
Mohammed Shami
Pankaj Singh
A domestic stalwart for Rajashan with 300 wickets in 77 first-class matches, Pankaj was handed a Test cap when Ishant Sharma was ruled out, and finished with a record he won't want attached to his name: the most runs conceded by a debutant bowler without a wicket. However, he bowled far better than the stats suggest, particularly on day one, and should have had Alastair Cook early as well as Ian Bell. Was the best of India's three pacers, doing whatever was asked of him, but a lack of pace and those awful figures could confine Pankaj to a solitary Test appearance.
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Murali Vijay
Vijay followed his defiant batting at Lord's - 24 and 95 - with a stumbling performance. He looked out of sorts against James Anderson on day three and perished for 34 to a moment of indecision to Stuart Broad. Worse, though, was Vijay's lethargic run out for 12 in the second innings. After two strong games, a low can be excused to an extent. And Vijay is a batsman who finds a way out of a slump.
Shikhar Dhawan
Vijay's opening partner has looked out of sorts in England and his place in the XI is now in jeopardy ahead of the Old Trafford Test. Six innings, 122 runs, highest of 37 in the second innings at Southampton. The cracks in his technique were again exposed by Anderson in the first innings, while in the second Dhawan fell to Joe Root's part-time offspin. Looks far removed from the dasher who bullied Australia in Mohali and stood tall in New Zealand. Has Dhawan exhausted whatever faith the management has in him?
Cheteshwar Pujara
India's No 3 had his poorest match of the series. Was tested by a fiery Anderson in the first innings where he looked uncomfortable against his bounce. Fell to a rising delivery from Broad that he failed to negotiate, and was caught behind when trying to weave out the ball's way. In the second, with India staring at a mountain, Pujara nicked off against Moeen Ali for two. Pujara has not looked as shaky in Tests as he has in England. His rock-solid technique is being tested.
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Virat Kohli
India's superstar showed signs of shrugging off his poor form in this Test, but twice squandered starts. His dismissal to Anderson in India's first innings was an extension of a nagging problem - the corridor of uncertainty outside off stump. His dismissal to Ali's offbreaks in the second was just downright ordinary. How Kohli fares in the next two Tests could impact whether he is regarded as a truly exceptional player or just a good one.
Ajinkya Rahane
India's best batsman, with two fifties. Looked good during his first-innings 54 until he made a mess of a long hop from Ali. Batted 121 balls for 52 not out in the second, the only Indian to cross 37. Goes to Old Trafford the most confident player of the team.
Rohit Sharma
The case of India's most frustrating batsman continued. Drafted in for his first Test in England, in place of allrounder Stuart Binny, Rohit found himself no further fans with a silly dismissal to Ali in the first innings. Shortly before tea, Rohit dashed out and lofted to mid-off, then sunk to his knees in despair. In the second, he made six before falling early on day five, edging off Anderson. Could be swapped for Binny in a week's time.
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MS DhoniHis biggest lapse in this match was falling early on day four, when India needed to bat out time. On 50 overnight, and with two tailenders remaining, India's captain hooked at one from Anderson and top-edged to the wicketkeeper. He failed to add a run to his total and India's innings lasted 25 balls. Was flat in the field, letting the game slip away. As often in the past, when teams start to attack, Dhoni eases into defensive mode and this was glaring here too. Needs to shake himself and the team up.
Ravindra Jadeja
Was India's leading wicket-taker in this Test but his left-arm spin was very ordinary, and the way Bell and debutant Jos Buttler took Jadeja apart in England's first innings was striking. His wickets either owed to poor shots, wrong calls or the need for quick runs. He got Cook for 95 with a short ball down the leg side; Buttler heaved and missed when the declaration was imminent; Gary Ballance was incorrectly given out; Bell and Root both went looking for quick runs in the second innings. Jadeja conceded 205 runs in 56.2 overs (economy rate 3.65) and with the bat, made 31 and 15. Calls for R Ashwin to play in his place have grown louder.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
No doubt, his average returns had a direct link to India's loss. Struggled to show the consistency and determination of the first two Tests, taking four wickets for 160 runs and scoring 19 and 0. A failure was around the corner, and the fatigue showed on Bhuvneshwar when he walked off the field Wednesday.
Mohammed Shami
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Turned in another poor showing, and should make way for a fresher pair of legs at Old Trafford. Cranked up some good pace on day one and did bowl some scattered short deliveries that tested England's batsmen, but overall Shami was ordinary and erratic. His five wickets in the series have come every 115 deliveries and at a cost of 73.20 each. Time to go?Pankaj Singh
A domestic stalwart for Rajashan with 300 wickets in 77 first-class matches, Pankaj was handed a Test cap when Ishant Sharma was ruled out, and finished with a record he won't want attached to his name: the most runs conceded by a debutant bowler without a wicket. However, he bowled far better than the stats suggest, particularly on day one, and should have had Alastair Cook early as well as Ian Bell. Was the best of India's three pacers, doing whatever was asked of him, but a lack of pace and those awful figures could confine Pankaj to a solitary Test appearance.