England’s assistant coach Jeetan Patel has attributed the early dismissals of their top-order batsmen to sheer exhaustion, not a lack of fitness, after a grueling 150 overs spent fielding against India.
Tired Shots Lead to Early Exits
England faced a challenging start to their innings, with Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope both falling for ducks, while Zack Crawley managed just 19 runs. These quick dismissals immediately sparked questions about the team’s performance.
Jeetan Patel, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, acknowledged the skill of the Indian bowlers. However, he emphasized that playing for nearly two full days in the field, especially with Shubman Gill in top form, would naturally take a significant toll on anyone.
The Gruelling Grind in the Field
“The new ball tonight did a little bit and we got it to go as well,” Patel noted, referring to the challenging conditions. He stressed the immense effort put in by the team, stating, “150 overs in the dirt takes a lot out of people.”
CricViz analyst Rufus Bullough supported this, highlighting that the last session on Day 2 saw more swing than at any other point in the match. India’s new ball found nearly double the swing compared to England’s earlier attempts, adding to the batting challenge.
Patel clarified that the issue wasn’t a fitness concern. “The fitness is alright, the boys are just tired. It’s taken a lot out of the boys,” he explained, also mentioning Harry Brook’s unexpectedly long spell of bowling.
Defending the Toss Decision
The decision by captain Ben Stokes to bowl first after winning the toss came under scrutiny, particularly after India amassed a significant score. However, Patel remained resolute in the team’s choice.
“We won’t regret,” he firmly stated. “I don’t think you reflect on what’s happened. Hindsight’s hindsight. We decided to bowl and we’ll stick by that.”
He suggested that on the first day, the conditions seemed favorable for bowling, and if a few early opportunities had been converted, the game might have looked entirely different.
Ignoring the Outside Noise
Just as in the first Test where Stokes’s bold decisions were questioned before England’s turnaround, Patel dismissed external criticism. He made it clear that the team’s focus remains internal.
“People are going to look at any scorecard and make a decision on what they’re going to think,” Patel said. “I’m not really fussed and I don’t think any of us are fussed about what’s said outside of the group.”
- England’s early batting collapses were attributed to fatigue, not fitness issues.
- The team spent over 150 overs in the field, which significantly drained the players.
- Assistant coach Jeetan Patel defended Ben Stokes’ decision to bowl first, standing by the team’s strategy.
- The England camp remains unfazed by external criticism, focusing on their internal game plan.
Despite the early setbacks, England’s coaching staff remains confident in their strategy and the resilience of their tired players.
