Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Jun 26: Former England cricketer Mark Butcher did not hold back in his criticism of Ravindra Jadeja and Shardul Thakur following India’s five-wicket loss to England in the first Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy Test at Headingley.
England chased down a stiff 371-run target in the final session of the last day, handing India a demoralising defeat. While Jadeja, one of India’s most senior players, was expected to be a key figure, his performance failed to make an impact. He scored 11 and an unbeaten 25, but his bowling — 0/68 and 1/104 — was notably ineffective, especially on a Day 5 pitch that offered considerable rough.
“I could not believe how poorly he bowled,” said Butcher on Wisden’s weekly podcast. “It was like owning a hammer but punching nails with your fist — not landing the ball in the rough until it was too late. With all his experience, it was baffling that neither he nor the keeper Rishabh Pant adjusted their approach against the left-handers.”
Butcher highlighted how England opener Ben Duckett repeatedly used the reverse sweep to dominate Jadeja, who failed to exploit the conditions effectively.
Butcher also took aim at India’s team selection, particularly the inclusion of Shardul Thakur over a second spinner like Kuldeep Yadav. Thakur, who is expected to contribute with both bat and ball, managed only 1 and 4 with the bat and had unconvincing bowling returns of 0/38 in the first innings and 2/52 in the second.
“The issue around the lineup… how much more interesting might that last day have been had they gone for Kuldeep instead of Thakur?” Butcher questioned. “Thakur had a really poor game until that one over where he briefly gave India a glimmer of hope. But if you’re not delivering with the bat at No. 8, you’ve got to be making an impact with the ball — and he just wasn’t in the game enough.”
Despite a late burst where Thakur dismissed Duckett and Harry Brook, Butcher felt it was too little, too late for India, who now trail in the series heading into the second Test.