Ashes 2023: "Wow, What A Decision That Is And That Could..." - Mark Butcher Takes A Unique Stance On England's Declaration

Published - 19 Jun 2023, 04:34 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:15 AM

Mark Butcher. Pic Credits: Twitter

The 1st Test match between England & Australia is evenly poised. England are leading by 35 runs but have lost 2 wickets. Mark Butcher was quite shell-shocked when England declared on 393-8. Mark Butcher said that other 50-odd runs could have made the difference for England.

England would be banking on the star batter Joe Root to play yet another impactful knock for the team as it would be tough for the likes of Harry Brook to assert his dominance against a quality Australian attack.

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Australia needs a cluster of wickets as the hosts not only bat deep but have the knack of playing long & effective cameos for the team. We can expect a cracker on Day 4 as the pitch still is flat as bowlers have to toil a lot.

Also Read: Ashes 2023: Ricky Ponting Praises Ben Stokes For Setting Umbrella-Type Field Placement To Outplay Usman Khawaja; Hails England’s Bold Approach vs Australia

The dashing batter Ollie Pope can be the unexpected package for Australia. England should carefully negate the threat of Cummins & Boland as the morning session would be decisive in the high-octane clash.

Also Read: Ashes 2023: Past Pat Cummins, They Have Three No.11s – Ollie Robinson Reveals England’s Strategy For Crushing Australia Tailenders

I was absolutely flabbergasted by the declaration – Mark Butcher

Mark Butcher was having an interaction with Wisden Cricket Weekly Podcast and spoke about England’s declaration which stunned him and said that playing fast and loose cricket in the first innings can be risky. Mark Butcher said that the decision to declare can come back to bite England.

“I was absolutely flabbergasted by that [declaration]. Great theatre and all the rest of it, wonderful. But how much would England have liked another 50 runs on top of their target as of right at this minute?” said Mark Butcher.

“Playing fast and loose with totals in the first innings when time is very much on your side in Test matches … I understand it in games where you’re trying to put time back in. But at that point on day one of a Test match? Wow, what a decision that is. And that could yet come back to bite England on the backside at some point over the next couple of days,” he stated.

“The thing that you shouldn’t just throw your hands in the air at and say, ‘that’s just us being on the front foot’, is declaring your first innings closed when you’ve got a bloke on 120 playing like God and there are runs to be made in a Test match with a pitch that is going to deteriorate, that to me is nuts,” he maintained.

Also Read: Ashes 2023: Allan Border Believes Australia Can Easily Dismiss England In The First Ashes Test

Tagged:

Harry Brook Joe Root Mark Butcher Ollie Pope Pat Cummins Scott Boland