Jeetan Patel Reveals Why Did England Pick Three Seamers For The Pink-Ball Test

England’s spin-bowling coach Jeetan Patel admitted that their strategy was entirely wrong in the third Test against India in Ahmedabad. With the match finishing within two days, the pitch has come under widespread scrutiny. Despite both sides’ spin-bowling departments shining, it was India who won by ten wickets. Nevertheless, Jeetan Patel has explained why did they pick the team they did.

28 out of the 30 wickets falling in two days went into the spinners’ buckets. It indeed felt strange for India to go ahead with three spinners at the start as they opted for Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Washington Sundar. However, Axar Patel and Ravichandran Ashwin tormented England’s batting line-up on the opening day itself, dismissing for 112, gaining an early upper hand.

But England committed the mistake of naming a team for the pink-ball Test instead of based on the conditions. The visitors picked James Anderson, Jofra Archer, and Stuart Broad for a deck that assisted spin for the most part. Nevertheless, Joe Root and Jack Leach hit back, sharing nine wickets to skittle the home side for 145. But England could only add 81 runs in their second innings that resulted in a ten-wicket defeat.

We were excited when we bowled India out for 140-odd: Jeetan Patel

Jeetan Patel understands that India produces spinning surfaces; however, he did not expect spin to come into play so early; hence, the line-up they opted for. The former New Zealand tweaker stated that even though the pitch was challenging to bat on, 112 would not be enough. Jeetan Patel further said that even after bundling out India for 145, the visitors could not capitalise by scoring at least 200-230 in the second innings. The 40-year old feels that the game could have been different.

“Look, it is India, it is Asia. We expect to get spinning surfaces, may be we did not expect to take spin as early as it did and hence the line-up we picked. It was a tough pitch to play on and we got on the wrong side of it. In the first innings when we won the toss, 112 was not going to be enough on any surface — spinning, flat or seaming. We were excited when we bowled India out for 140-odd. But again it did not click in second innings. If we had scored 200 or 230 in the first innings, the game could have been different,” Patel said as quoted by Hindustan Times.

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