Shubman Gill's Virat Kohli-style aggression triggered England's beast mode: Moeen
"But then, obviously the other team, what you've done is, I think you've actually brought out the best of England and the fight and that beast England can be," he said."And I think it's a different side of England. They've shown all the players that it's great for the series to win. I don't know why it's getting criticised."Gill has been one of India's standout performers in the series, notching a century at Headingley and following it up with a record-breaking ton and a double hundred in the second Test at Birmingham - a match India won convincingly by 336 runs. However, his performance dipped at Lord's, where he scored 16 and 6, and was involved in verbal duels with Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett.Former India players Sanjay Manjrekar and Mohammad Kaif have both suggested that Gill's aggressive approach at Lord's may have backfired.India ultimately fell short by 22 runs in the third Test, dismissed for 170 while chasing 193, despite a spirited lower-order fightback led by Ravindra Jadeja.Moeen, who has shared the Chennai Super Kings dressing room with Jadeja in the IPL, praised the Indian all-rounder's batting, though acknowledged his lack of wickets this series."He just knows what he's doing. I think he's done it for many years. I think he's been amazing with the bat this series, obviously," Moeen said."I think with the ball, he hasn't quite got the wickets, but he does what he does. He's very tight. He can bowl, but he's not outstanding... I think now he's at the peak of his batting. Bowling wise, I think he just doesn't have the wickets. With the tally, I think he's bowled well, he just doesn't have the wickets."The calls for Kuldeep Yadav's inclusion in the playing XI have been growing louder, and Moeen echoed the sentiment, albeit cautiously."I would like to see Kuldeep in the team, but I don't know who for. Washington's bowled well, Jadeja batted well. So it makes it difficult to bring Kuldeep Yadav in the side. I would like to see Kuldeep in, but I don't think they can fit him in."advertisementReflecting on the closely-fought Lord's Test, Moeen credited England's composure, especially in the third innings, for tilting the match in their favour."I think, at Lord's it can happen. Because there's always something for the ball, even though the period where it looked easy for batting, there's always a few periods where... it makes it a little bit difficult.""I think KL (Rahul) played really well on that wicket. But I think it was obviously a very close game."England, having weathered challenging conditions on the opening morning and posting 387 in the first innings, managed to secure a narrow lead that proved crucial."I think we were lucky, it was even to the closer level. England just scored a few more runs in the third innings, which was probably easier than it was in the four innings," Moeen noted."But I think the first morning at Lord's, when it was doing a bit more, I thought England got through that period nicely. And I think to be 387 in the first innings there and in that situation, I think was a lot right."As the five-match series continues, Gill's combative streak, England's resilience, and India's selection puzzles are all contributing to what is shaping up to be a thrilling contest between two evenly matched sides.- EndsYou May Also Like
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New Indian Express
2 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Getting pacers ready for five-Test series out of IPL tricky: Morne Morkel
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United News of India
2 hours ago
- United News of India
Joe Root's masterclass put England in command
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First Post
2 hours ago
- First Post
Morkel defends under-fire Indian bowlers, says playing five Tests right after IPL a challenge: 'It's a real test'
India bowling coach Morne Morkel also felt the Jasprit Bumrah-led attack performed much better on Day 3 of the fourth Test against England in Manchester, and came to the defence of debutant Anshul Kamboj, who has been criticised for his underwhelming pace. read more India bowling coach Morke Morkel defended the performance of the Jasprit Bumrah-led bowling unit after the third day's play in the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford. AP India bowling coach Morne Morkel admitted his bowlers are struggling to make an impact in the crucial fourth Test against England in Manchester, but felt playing a five-match Test series in England right after two months of the Indian Premier League was always going to be a challenge. Morkel reacted to India's dismal bowling performance on Day 3 at Old Trafford, which allowed England to end the day on a commanding 544/7. Joe Root headlined their dominant batting performance with a majestic 150 while four others, including captain Ben Stokes (77 not out), scored fifties. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD For India, spin-bowling all-rounders Washington Sundar (2/57) and Ravindra Jadeja (2/117) lead the way with a couple of wickets each while the pace trio of Jasprit Bumrah (1/95), Mohammed Siraj (1/113) and debutant Anshul Kamboj (1/89) collected a wicket each. 'It's a real test. We play three Test match series a lot and this is now our first time in a while we've done this with five. It shouldn't be excused, but in terms of conditioning, getting our guys conditioned and getting them ready for five Test series coming straight up after IPL, is sometimes an issue,' Morkel told reporters during the press conference after stumps. 'Much better today with the ball' The former South African pacer, however, added that the Indians bowled a lot better on the 'Moving Day' than they did on Thursday, when England had raced to 225/2 at stumps after following a 166-run opening stand between Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett. 'Much better today with the ball. I thought yesterday was a tough day for us in the office. We missed our lines, putting us slightly on the back foot, but I thought the way the boys responded this morning, especially Siraj and Bumrah with the ball, was good to see. 'And yeah, from there, you know, we tried our best with trying to create opportunities on a wicket played better than the first couple of days. Discipline and holding those lines were key. And that was something I think we missed on day one,' he added. Morkel also confirmed Bumrah and Siraj did suffer injury scares on Day 3, but were ultimately fine. 'Yeah, unfortunately, when we took the second new ball, Booms rolled his ankles going down the stairs. And then Siraj also, I think, rolled his foot in one of the footholds. But they seemed to be okay,' he continued. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Morkel extends support to debutant Kamboj As for Kamboj, who replaced the injured Akash Deep in the XI, clocking underwhelming speeds under 125kmph at Old Trafford on international debut, Morkel felt it was a learning curve for the 24-year-old Haryana pacer. 'Unfortunately, there's no place to hide. And, you know, we support him as best as we can, through conversations. But it's also for him, it's good learning. 'And I think everybody in the dressing room is constantly telling him to keep going and supporting him. That's part of international cricket, it's good to get a taste for it and know, moving forward, what he needs to do to play at this level. 'So, you know, it's through good conversations and just keep on supporting him. He can definitely bowl quicker,' Morkel added.
