Former England captain Mike Atherton has offered strong opinions on England’s recent Test performance, praising Shubman Gill’s shrewd captaincy while sharply criticizing the shot selections of Harry Brook and Zak Crawley.
Brook’s Costly Sweep Under Fire
Harry Brook’s dismissal on Day 4 of the Lord’s Test proved to be a turning point for India. After hitting two fours and a six, Brook tried an audacious sweep shot that resulted in his middle stump being clattered.
Mike Atherton, writing in The Times, stated there was “no merit” in the shot. He highlighted that the ball Brook got out to was a straight half-volley, a type of delivery he could have played much better with a straighter bat.
Gill’s Captaincy Masterclass
A key aspect of Brook’s dismissal was the tactical brilliance shown by Indian captain Shubman Gill and bowler Akash Deep. After Brook had successfully scooped runs, Gill adjusted the field by moving a boundary fielder finer on the leg side.
This strategic move was designed to block Brook’s preferred aerial lap-scoop. Despite the change, Brook attempted a sweep shot into the now-riskier area, leading to his downfall and showcasing Gill’s intelligent leadership.
Crawley’s “Infuriating” Dismissal
Zak Crawley also drew Atherton’s ire for his dismissal. Having successfully navigated tough spells from Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj, Crawley fell to medium-pacer Nitish Kumar Reddy.
Gill shrewdly placed two gullies for Crawley, knowing the opener’s tendency for loose drives away from his body. When Reddy delivered a full, shaping ball outside off, Crawley took the bait, edging it straight to Yashasvi Jaiswal at second gully.
Atherton described Crawley’s dismissal as “infuriating,” suggesting it raises persistent questions about the opener’s willingness to learn and improve his shot selection.
A Pattern of Poor Choices?
Brook and Crawley weren’t the only ones criticised. Atherton also mentioned that Joe Root and Ben Stokes made “wrong options” later in the innings against Washington Sundar.
However, Brook’s dismissal stood out to Atherton as the one where the balance between risk and reward was most out of sync, making it the most glaring mistake.
- Mike Atherton praised Shubman Gill’s strategic field changes.
- Harry Brook’s sweep shot was deemed to have “no merit” by Atherton.
- Zak Crawley’s dismissal was called “infuriating,” highlighting a perceived lack of learning.
- Gill’s field placements for both Brook and Crawley demonstrated shrewd captaincy.
These critical assessments from a former captain underscore the fine margins and strategic depth involved in top-level Test cricket.
