Ashes 2023: "Ben Stokes Made A Mistake By Not Going For The New Ball, They Delayed It Too Much" - Harbhajan Singh

Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh highlighted England’s mistake on the final day of the first Test against Australia in the ongoing Ashes series at Edgbaston in Birmingham. Harbhajan Singh said that Ben Stokes made a mistake by not taking a new ball in the final session of the match.

The Ben Stokes-led team didn’t take a new ball after the 80th over in Australia’s second innings. The decision paid off for the hosts, as Joe Root picked up the wicket of Alex Carey on the third ball of the 81st over. Australia were reduced to 227/8, but they managed to win the match by two wickets.

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Pat Cummins Played A Captain’s Innings – Harbhajan Singh

Harbhajan Singh pointed out that England should have taken the new ball after the wicket of Alex Carey to trouble tailenders with swinging balls.

“Pat Cummins has to be praised for his knock, he played a captain’s innings coming down the order. Ben Stokes made a mistake by not going for the new ball, they delayed it too much,” Harbhajan said.

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“England thought they would get Cummins and Lyon with the old ball as well, but Australia stepped up with a counter-attack instead,” he added.

Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon added an unbeaten 55-run partnership for the ninth wicket to help the team win the match. Cummins scored an unbeaten 44 off 73 balls, while Lyon contributed with a crucial 16 runs off 28 deliveries.

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I Think They Will Come Back Strongly – Harbhajan Singh

Harbhajan predicted that the England team would come back in the upcoming Tests in the five-match series against Australia.

“You never know with the new ball, he should have taken it after Carey was dismissed. By the time it was taken, both Cummins and Lyon were settled. Now the pressure will be on England, but the way they have played so far, I think they will come back strongly,” he concluded.

The England national cricket team will take on the Pat Cummins-led team in the second Test of the Ashes series at the Lord’s Cricket Ground in London beginning on June 28.

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