"They are playing Wallball" - Graeme Swann drops Rahul Dravid reference while praising India's batting tactics

India were able to shift the momentum of the 3rd IND vs ENG Test match in their favor on Day 3 and displayed a brilliant performance with bat and ball. English opener Ben Duckett had showcased ‘bazball’ on Day 2 and smashed an attacking hundred. Duckett had moved the momentum of the match in England’s favor after the end of Day 2 and helped his side reach 207/2, in reply to first innings total of 445 runs.

However, the bowlers showcased a brilliant comeback in the match and wrapped up England for 319 runs on Day 3 in their first innings. The three lions dealt with a brutal batting collapse, wherein each batter fell cheaply against the Indian bowlers including Ben Duckett. In reply, the hosts showcased an aggressive batting approach and ended the day’s play at 196/2.

Former England spinner Graeme Swann while speaking to the broadcasters, praised India’s batting approach on Day 3 of the Rajkot Test. Swann believes that India are playing more of a ‘wallball’ in reply to England’s ‘bazball’. ‘Wall’ is the nickname of Indian head coach and former captain Rahul Dravid, whereas, England’s head coach Brendon McCullum is known as ‘baz’.

Graeme Swann praises India’s batting tactics

Graeme Swann said, “They are playing their own version of Bazball, they are playing Wallball”, Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal anchored India’s brilliant batting on Day 3 and smashed his 2nd hundred of the series. Jaiswal has already hit a double hundred in the second match and played an innings of 209 runs. Jaiswal got retired hurt for 104 runs but had also added 155 runs along with Shubman Gill for the second wicket.

Wallball anyone? 😁 pic.twitter.com/Go4LAD630l

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) February 17, 2024

Shubman Gill also gave brilliant support to Yashasvi Jaiswal from the other end and hit a brilliant half-century. This was a welcome fifty for Gill as he was dismissed for a duck in the first innings. He was unbeaten on 65 runs from 120 balls and now will be wanting to convert his half-century into a big hundred.

Before India’s solid batting display, in the course of eighteen runs, India were able to wrap up England early on Day 3. The hosts managed to remove wicketkeeper-batsman Jonny Bairstow and overnight batsman Joe Root. Kuldeep Yadav got rid of Bairstow for a duck, while Jasprit Bumrah got rid of Root. Despite Ben Stokes’ spectacular 41 runs off 89 balls, no other England batsman was able to hold the crease for very long and was got out cheaply.

Though batting has not been a serious problem for India in the series so far, but they have felt the absence of KL Rahul and Virat Kohli on many occasions. India were in a winning position during the first Test match, but they weren’t able to chase down 230 odd runs in the 2nd innings due to a failure in the batting order.

The Indian middle order has not fired in the series so far, wherein inexperience is the major reason behind the problem. The form of Shreyas Iyer and KS Bharat were also a problem, however, they were removed from the playing XI in the third Test match. Also, the likes of Sarfaraz Khan and Dhruv Jurel showed a decent display of cricket in their debut Test.