Former Pakistani batsman Mohammad Yousuf took to X (formerly Twitter) and took a brutal dig at the English team who are currently playing the 1st of a 5-match Test series in India and claimed that the visitors are in line for an embarrassing 5-0 whitewash after seeing their performance on Day 1 of the 1st Test in Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi stadium.
Mohammad Yousuf tweeted his thoughts yesterday after England’s Bazball implementation in India for the first time since its inception went wrong. The English contingent did get off to a decent start through openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley and initially, it looked like they have come here knowing exactly what needs to be done.
Duckett and Crawley completed the first 50 runs very quickly and took on Indian pacers – Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj very well. However, when in India, you have to be a proficient player of spin, something that the openers could not counterattack.
Ravichandran Ashwin got the first breakthrough as the veteran off-spinner removed Duckett for the 4th time in Test cricket before Ravindra Jadeja took the wicket of number 3 Ollie Pope. Soon later Ashwin registered his 2nd of the day by getting Zak Crawley for 20 off 40 and after an initial blister, England looked in shambles.
In the closing minutes of 1st session, Johnny Bairstow and Joe Root steadied the ship but as the 2nd session began, India’s spin battery kept on building the pressure and it paid off. Axar Patel would bowl a fantastic orthodox left-arm off spin which castled the off-stump of Bairstow while he was at 37.
Moments later, England’s most experienced player on Indian soil, Joe Root while attempting to play the sweep shot, ended up handing an easy catch to Bumrah as Jadeja’s short-of-length delivery took the top edge and went behind in the leg-slip area.
Then captain Ben Stokes watched over from the other hand as Ben Foakes came and went back to the dressing room, Rehan Ahmed did smack a few but Bumrah got him with an off-cutter for 4 before Tom Hartley supported Stokes for a bit.
Stokes and Hartley stood for a 38-run partnership before the latter departed. In came Mark Wood who scored 11 while Ben Stokes was England’s best performer with 70 off 88. Jasprit Bumrah ended England’s 1st innings for 246 by scalping Stokes who became his 2nd wicket of the day.
“My Forecast Remains 5-0” – Mohammad Yousuf Opines After Seeing Day 1
After observing the first day of the Test between India and England, my forecast remains 5-0. @BCCI #india @Englandcricket #England
— Mohammad Yousaf (@yousaf1788) January 25, 2024
Former Pakistani batting maestro, Mohammad Yousuf, has expressed a lack of confidence in the England cricket team’s ability to secure victory against India in a test series, a feat they haven’t accomplished since 2012. After observing the first day, Mohammad Yousuf predicted India as the frontrunners, anticipating a potential whitewash of 5-0.
Mohammad Yousuf’s skepticism stemmed from England’s dismal batting performance, a stark contrast to India’s formidable prowess with the bat on the second day. This candid assessment from a cricketing veteran reflects concerns over England’s current form and underscores the formidable challenge they face against the dominant Indian team in the ongoing series.
