It was around 10 PM in India and as I was watched Ben Stokes score the winning runs, a powerful drive on the up through covers, the uncanny resemblance of a similar shot from the same batsman a few years ago in that famous Headingley test, was not lost on anyone who had watched that game. England won the 2nd test against New Zealand rather comfortably. The target was stiff but not an unattainable one. One thing is for sure. It was an incredible chase by England.
It was barely a year ago, against the same opposition but in a different ground, Lord’s, New Zealand declared their second innings and set England a target of 273 runs in 75 overs. About 24 runs less. It was Root who was the captain at that time with Chris Silverwood as the coach. The team decided to shut shop right at the beginning and never tried to win the game. They were roasted by the press for their inability to even try to win the game. One year down the line, after an Ashes mauling and a series loss in the West Indies and a whole host of personnel changes, England has pulled off the improbable.
What changed in the England lineup?
The biggest change is the mindset. The appointment of Brendan McCullum as the coach and Ben Stokes as the captain, has brought a sea change in the attitude of the players. After the debacle of the 2014 ODI World Cup, the ECB wanted to change the way England played white ball cricket. They emerged quite successful and now, England are the trendsetter when it comes to ODI and T20. No score is safe against such dynamic players. It was Andrew Strauss who ushered in that change and it is the same Andrew Strauss who has brought this change too. He may not be directly responsible for selecting the captain or the coach or the team but it was his vision of appointing Robert Key as the managing director seems to have rejuvenated English cricket.
The classic pairing of the coach and the captain
McCullum and Stokes are both positive cricketers. They are always on the look out for an opening to sneak through a win. McCullum did that with spectacular success with New Zealand. He brought in a culture of winning with a smiling face. Up until that point, New Zealand weren’t the nice guys that they are today. McCullum changed that with his authority and with his bat. Now, New Zealand though they are not an all-conquering side is a much respected one. It is not a small achievement by a nation with a tiny population and even tinier player base. It is that McCullum who is now directing the England team. In Stokes, he has a willing ally. We all know the destructive capabilities of Stokes. With two ultra-aggressive men at the top, England have set on the path of complete aggression in Test cricket too.
What about the game itself?
Unlike last year, when England depended on New Zealand to declare their innings, this time, they called the shots. They bowled out New Zealand on the morning of the final day and thereby had a decision to make. Whether to bat the remaining overs for a draw or try and win the game? That they chose the 2nd option, the credit for that must go to the coach and the captain. Target close to 300 in 75 overs, you will have the bowling team as the favourite, followed by draw. Let us also remember that New Zealand does possess a good bowling attack for the conditions. Chasing a score on the last day in the second innings is always a delicate proposition.
Unlike ODI or T20, where draw is not an option, in Test cricket, it is very much an option. When faced with such a tall proposition, most of the team will want to take a conservative approach. Some will want to bat for a certain number of overs and decide later. This includes the former England teams too but this England team did not leave anyone in any doubt what their intentions were. Right from the beginning, Alex Lees, started with a string of boundaries. The sudden setback of losing Lees and Root did not deter England. Not even the wicket of their best batsman ever. Before the start of the 2nd innings, for England to win, one would have thought, either Root or Stokes will have to play a really long innings. Anyone else would have been an afterthought. However, it was Bairstow who stole the show.
Commanding performance
His innings completely overshadowed the efforts of Root and Pope in the first innings. The hitting was tremendous. Winning while chasing such a high target in itself is difficult and if teams do win, they would have huffed and puffed to the target. The game would have dragged on right to the last few overs and someone would have played a brave hand but here, Bairstow did not leave anyone in any doubt. His innings left no one in doubt who will eventually win the game. The sheer audacity was brilliant to watch.
“I’m incredibly proud of the way I went about that innings,” he said. “Because it wasn’t just a case of ‘let’s go gung-ho’. It was pick your times, pick your moments, then try to change the game.”
“Ben said: ‘Don’t even think about hitting it down, just plant it in the stands,’” Bairstow said. “I was just trying to do what the captain said.”
Conclusion to an incredible chase by England
Warning has been issued to the Indian team that is slated to play the final test in July to decide winner of the series. After witnessing England’s commanding performance, they will not be under any illusion that all that they have to do is turn up at the ground and the game will be won. The confidence of the England squad is sky high and India, without much red-ball practice over the last few months, the task is tough enough. They will have to be at their best to win the series.
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