Sports news: Ex-Indian off-spinner all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin has a suggestion for team India ahead of the second test. India lost the first Test at Leeds by five wickets. England went on to chase a big total of 371 on the last day of the match, with Ben Duckett scoring an immaculate 149. India finds itself in a spot of bother after a shocking defeat. Although four different centurions stepped up, including Rishabh Pant with twin tons, India somehow managed to give it all away.
Ashwin's Suggestion
Ahead of the second test at Edgbaston, Ashwin has asked Team India to adopt a defensive approach rather than an aggressive one. "The whole point of 'going for wickets' is a lie; be it test cricket or T20 cricket, it's all a lie. Pressure gives you wickets," said Ashwin while analyzing India's approach in the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. "When a bowler keeps the batter at one end for 10 balls and then delivers a good ball, that's what we call rhythm."
Ashwin's take on Bazball
Ashwin has told Wisden Cricket about the possible strategy England might adopt against Bumrah and India. "It's not about how many overs Jasprit Bumrah will bowl. It's about how we keep the pressure on if Bumrah isn't bowling. This game is pretty straightforward—'we will play Bumrah carefully and bazball everyone else.' This is what England will do," said Ashwin.
"Play Defensive Cricket": Ashwin
Ashwin wants the Indian team to play defensive cricket in England. "As a bowling unit, we should make strategies to play some defensive, negative cricket. The kind of wickets England are making, we should play negative, defensive cricket and ask our bowlers to contain them more," said Ashwin. The second test of the series will be played at Edgbaston, Birmingham. Already trailing by 0-1, skipper Shubman Gill and his teammates would look to bounce back.
