England began the second Test against India with Ben Stokes opting to bowl – but their opponents held fast.
India scored 310 for five at Edgbaston, with captain Shubman Gill scoring a century to help them make a steady start after their defeat at Headingley.
Their star bowler Jasprit Bumrah was rested – despite having had seven days’ respite – in a controversial call as India made three changes.
Shoaib Bashir was a talking point after he worked with an England cult hero in the build-up to this one.
And while the kookaburra ball is the talk of the town after its experiment in the County Championship, Ben Stokes was less than satisfied with the Dukes ball here.
Mail Sport’s David Lloyd – AKA Bumble – has his say on all the big talking points after the opening day of the second Test between England and India.
India’s self-destructive mindset
India made three changes and what I’m hearing is that their camp would be happy to get to Lord’s, just one-nil down.
They lengthened the tail after the collapses at Headingley and my interpretation is that they’ve loaded this team with batters and would be happy with a draw.
If you get into that mindset before you’ve even started, you’re shooting yourself in the foot.
My tough love for Jasprit Bumrah
Let’s talk about Jasprit Bumrah.
If you are the best bowler in the world, your team is trailing and you’ve just had a week off, you should be fit, firing and ready to go again.
The plot thickens. Has Jasprit said ‘I’ll miss this Test and play at Lord’s’ or have the Indian medics said he’s not ready to play? There’s an air of mystery.
I’m old school. If you’re a cricketer, then play cricket.
Jasprit Bumrah should be fit, firing, and raring to go – he should not be sitting this out
Confusion over the boundary ropes
I was confused by how far in the boundary ropes were. I think it has something to do with having them not too close to the advertising boards.
In an era where health and safety keeps rearing its head, Stanley Park in Blackpool told me this week that dogs aren’t allowed at the cricket because it’s a health and safety issue.
For what it’s worth, Blackpool Zoo is next door!
This isn’t just cricket – it’s big business
With a Wednesday start, Warwickshire would love some weekend action to maximise revenue so it’s not a surprise to see a pitch that will take us deep.
This track hasn’t got a blade of grass. It should be a batters’ paradise and you could tell that when both Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill were playing out of their crease.
Not only is it a cricket match. It is big business.
Shoaib Bashir’s new mentor
Shoaib Bashir intrigues me, as a young bowler who is learning to bowl in Test cricket. He’s got great talent but doesn’t seem to have a natural rhythm.
I’m picturing Nathan Lyon, who has lovely control. At that last second before delivery, Bashir seems to lose control and looks as if he’s falling over.
I wonder if working with Moeen Ali can make it smoother. Mo had a lovely flow and it will take time for Bashir but the bottom line is that you must spin the ball.
Shoaib Bashir’s work with Moeen Ali will hopefiully make his bowling smoother
Ali, who used to be England’s frontline spinner, helped Bashir in the run-up to the Test
Stokes moans about Dukes ball
All this talk about the Kookaburra ball in the County Championship.
Well, England were desperate to change the Dukes ball, with Ben Stokes complaining to the umpire Chris Gaffaney on a number of occasions.
The umpires carry all sorts of paraphernalia these days, including a ring piece. Poor umpire Gaffaney had to push the ball through his ring piece and England had to be content, until the sixth time of asking when Gaffaney finally caved in.
England’s umpiring woes
Sticking with umpires, Sharfuddoula is umpiring in the style of Dickie Bird.
England had three huge appeals turned down and on review, they were hitting the stumps but were all umpire’s call.
Back in the day, we had umpire Ray Julian and he would have given all three out. I had a stint as an umpire and I was of the Julian mould. I liked to keep the game moving forward.
Shubman Gill hit a century here but still needs to get comfortable with the India captaincy
What Shubman Gill needs to work on
Shubman Gill has slotted in seamlessly at number four, with a century at Headingley and another hundred here. Batting looks effortless to him and he is wonderful to watch.
He reminds me of Mohammad Azharuddin, who with his languid stroke play and relaxed mannerisms looked like nothing fazed him.
At just 25, Gill’s next challenge is to get comfortable with the captaincy because he looked a little confused at Leeds.
