England vs India 2021: If You Are Stupid You Do Not Deserve To Win Test Matches - Geoffrey Boycott Blasts England After Loss

Former England batsman Geoffrey Boycott criticized England’s tactics that brought their own downfall in the second Test and wasn’t happy with England’s top three batsmen not getting any runs. Apart from Joe Root, no other England batsmen have registered a half-century so far and the bulk of the batting has been done by the skipper which has been a concern.

England’s plans had taken a big blow as well with Joe Root setting a field with no close-in catcher for Tailenders and wanted the English bowlers to bowl some short stuff. It backfired as Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami weren’t threatened at all and formed an 89 run partnership that made it highly improbable for an England win. India in the end bowled out England for 120 and won the Test by 151 runs.

“England Cannot Keep Relying On Joe Root For All Their Runs” –  Geoffrey Boycott

Geoffrey Boycott was critical about the plans of England and blamed their stupidity for the loss at the Lord’s Test. Root scored an unbeaten 180 in the first inning which took England to a lead of 27 runs. Boycott added that the contributions have to come from the other batters too in the top three if England has to win a Test.

“This Test match has proved two things. Firstly, if you are stupid you do not deserve to win Test matches. As much as we love Joe Root for his magnificent batting, he cocked up with his tactics.

“Secondly, England cannot keep relying on Joe for all their runs. There has to be an improvement from the top three very soon because it is getting beyond a joke,” Geoffrey Boycott stated on his column for The Telegraph.

Geoffrey Boycott Highlights The Intentions Of England Team

Geoffrey Boycott lauded Root for his captaincy and field setting until Bumrah and Shami came into the crease. Boycott wasn’t impressed with the way Root encouraged Wood to bowl continuous short stuff to Bumrah and pointed out the intentions of England being more on hitting Bumrah rather than taking his wicket.

“Joe had been doing well with his field placings and captaincy but seeing Jasprit Bumrah at the crease was like a red rag to a bull. He encouraged Mark Wood to just pepper him with fast short balls. It is obvious the England captain and some of his players wanted payback for the working over Bumrah gave James Anderson in the first innings.

Heated words were exchanged as England seemed more intent on hitting Bumrah and Mohammad Shami instead of getting them out,” he added.

India will be riding high on confidence after their win at Lord’s and have gone up 1-0 in the series with 3 games to go.

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