New Delhi: Former England captain Michael Vaughan believes that the heavy 434-run defeat to India in the third Test at Rajkot has to be a wake-up call for Ben Stokes and his players.
In what was also Stokes’ 100th Test match, England conceded a 126-run lead to India and were put under the pump in all departments to lose the match by 434 runs inside four days at the Niranjan Shah Stadium. England are now 2-1 behind in the five-match series against India.
“This England team is a bundle of energy and has already brought us huge excitement and joy. But surely a defeat this heavy has to be a wake-up call for Ben Stokes and his players. The way they played this week has gifted India a victory. I couldn’t believe my eyes the way they batted on day three, especially Joe Root’s shot,” wrote Vaughan in his column for The Telegraph.
He was also taken aback by opener Ben Duckett’s comments on how England should be given the credit for Yashasvi Jaiswal’s explosive batting style while making 214 in the second innings of the match.
“Ben Duckett said ‘the more the better” in terms of their target this week, but they fell 434 short. Duckett also reckons they deserve credit for the way Yashasvi Jaiswal is batting, as if no player in history has ever played an attacking shot.”
Vaughan also urged England to come out of their bubble of playing aggressively in Test cricket. “This England team is hell bent on doing things their way, and “saving Test cricket”. They are giving Test cricket a shot in the arm because they are so exciting. But ultimately they have to be better than that now.”
