Former England cricketer Mark Butcher has criticized India's late declaration on Day 4 of the ongoing second Test at Edgbaston. India set England a daunting target of 608 runs, but Butcher, along with other experts and fans, questioned the timing of the declaration, suggesting it might have been too late, especially considering the weather forecast for Day 5.
Butcher, speaking on Sky Sports, described the situation as "baffling". He suggested that India's hesitation stemmed from the fear that Ben Stokes and his team could chase down even a massive target if given enough time. Butcher noted that India might have wanted to ensure England were "completely and utterly out of it" before declaring. He also said that India could have given themselves more time to win the game by scoring faster.
Other analysts echoed Butcher's sentiment. Ian Ward, also on Sky Sports, felt India was "playing on England's ego". He alluded to Stokes's earlier comments about England's confidence in chasing down any target.
The context for this criticism lies in England's recent history of successful fourth-innings chases, particularly in the "Bazball" era. England has a reputation for targeting victories at all costs and has pulled off some remarkable chases. This includes a chase at Edgbaston in 2022 against India, where they successfully reached a target of 378. Another instance was in the first Test of the current series, where England reached 371 in Leeds.
Adding to the concerns about the late declaration was the weather forecast for Day 5, which predicted a high chance of rain, potentially reducing the time available for India to bowl England out. Some fans criticized India's decision, with one calling it "the most pathetic, feeble declaration I have ever seen".
However, some defended India's strategy. Morne Morkel, speaking after Day 4, felt India made the right decision to wait, citing the good batting conditions and the desire to assess the bowlers' performance on a flat pitch. He added that weather is something you can't control.
Despite the debate surrounding the declaration, India dominated the Test match. Shubman Gill had a record-breaking performance, becoming the first player in Test history to score 250 and 150 in the same match. Gill's scores of 269 in the first innings and 161 in the second innings helped India reach a commanding position. Contributions from Ravindra Jadeja, Rishabh Pant, and KL Rahul further solidified India's dominance. By the end of Day 4, England were struggling at 72/3, needing a herculean effort to salvage a draw.
Nasser Hussain believes that the pressure is firmly on India to push for a win on Day 5 against England in the second Test, questioning Shubman Gill's trust in his bowlers if they fail. Mark Butcher suggests a draw would be a moral victory for England, fueled by India's late declaration, urging them to seize the opportunity and entertain fans with a resilient performance.
