The bowlers tend to relax once the get the top order, due to over-confidence. Biggest culprit is Shami. He is another Praveen Kumar in the making. Will fade away in a couple of years.
This is not the case only under Kohli captaincy, or whether it is home / away tests. This has happened even before where the bottom half has scored more - remember the historic Kolkata test( laxman's 281) or the match in Kolkata against Pak where Saeed Anwar made 189 (Pak was 25/6 but went on to make 180odd in 1st innings).
The article itself does not offer any reasons contrary to its title.It is full of data which only confirms what is already known. 2) Let us first admit Sam Curran is a fine batsman.The others in the bottom half are playing around him.I believe despite the YOYO test the Indian bowlers are tired by the time he comes into bat.Here we have to look at the failure of Hardik Pandya to provide relief to the frontline fast bowlers.Pandya is a T-20 level bowler catapulted into test cricket .Occassionally he bowls well.As Kapil pointed out sometime back he does not use his brain while bowling.As a result the sorts of Curran feel relieved when he comes into bowl and the pressure on batsmen is released.Further the ball too becomes old by the time Curran comes in and does dart around.India should go in with a regular fast bowler like Shardul Thakur who is a reasonably good bat.Had India had a left arm seamer he would have been useful.Navdeep Saini had toured England with the A-Team and did reasonably well.He could have been in the team instead of Kuldeep Yadav.The team has a tendency to relax after the first five wickets are taken.It is not maintaining the initial intensity.
The team selection is pathetic. What was the need to take Hardik Pandya for test matches. All the openers have failed in this test series. Seasoned test players like Jadeja has been left out. The coach should be held accountable.
Interesting article. Please understand that in Cricket figures mean nothing and it is'on the field of play' that matters. England found men for the occasion like the new boy Cullen or Woakes or even Moeen whereas we had nothing other than Kohli and Pujara. The result shows as our youngsters did not fire and those expoerienced flopped. Need a total change. But what change when you find Dhoni still in the team that too against asian teams which are no match for us.
Team was poor and selectors were sleeping while creating this team. It is blow which will eclipse our cricket sprit for couple of years. What nonsense t20 games our players play when it comes to playing real cricket they prove themselves as if still playing like lagaan team.
Only kohli played well. Rest all are junk except Mohammad shami who revived from blow of wife curse.
Team was poor and selectors were sleeping while creating this team. It is blow which will eclipse our cricket sprit for couple of years. What nonsense t20 games our players play when it comes to playing real cricket they prove themselves as if still playing like lagaan team.
Only kohli played well. Rest all are junk except Mohammad shami who revived from blow of wife curse.
These days all number 9,10 and 11 play well in all countries. India lost because they cant bat well and their cathing. Drop Dhawan, Rahul, Vijay and shastry. They should go back and perform in first class and regain form. Ravi must prove himself and must convince BCCI and fans that he is useful for the team.Losing is not a problem.But not knowing how to win is worrying. English bottom half did not win this match.Indians handed over the win.