ENG vs IND: Michael Vaughan slams Ben Stokes's decision to bowl in Leeds Test
Former England captain Michael Vaughan has questioned Ben Stokes's call to bowl first on a sun-drenched opening day at Headingley, expressing disbelief at the decision that allowed India to pile on 359 for 3 on Day 1 of the Leeds Test. Ben Stokes' decision seemed ill-advised, as centuries from opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and captain Shubman Gill—his first as skipper—powered India to a commanding position in their series opener against England.advertisementVaughan, who knows the Leeds venue intimately, having played 51 first-class matches there-including four as England captain-said he was "staggered" by Stokes's decision at the toss. "I am an old-school traditionalist here at Leeds that when the sun is shining, with dry weather, you bat," Vaughan told BBC Test Match Special. "I was staggered when he said he was going to bowl. Traditions are out the window. You have to pick your decisions on that moment, and not things that you did here years ago."England's strategy to field first has become a familiar pattern since Stokes took over the captaincy in 2022. In the nine home Tests where England won the toss during his tenure, they have opted to bowl first eight times, winning six of those matches. Vaughan, however, cautioned against relying too heavily on recent trends or historical precedent.advertisement
ENG vs IND 1st Test Day 1 Highlights"You always have to pick your decisions on that moment," Vaughan reiterated. "And not things that you did here years ago or at other times. It can't affect what the decision is today. You look at the England side and their strength is in the batting. And there is inexperience in the bowling at the moment. Ben clearly had a gut feeling, and sometimes it has worked."While recent history at Headingley might have supported England's approach-the last six Tests at the venue were all won by teams bowling first-conditions on the day seemed to favour batting. The pitch flattened out quickly, allowing Yashasvi Jaiswal and newly-appointed Indian captain Shubman Gill to each bring up superb centuries.England's fast-bowling consultant, Tim Southee, shed some light on the rationale behind the toss decision, citing the green tinge and early morning moisture as potential sources of assistance for the bowlers."With the colour of the wicket yesterday, and a little bit of moisture left in it, if there was a little bit of help in it, it was probably going to be this morning," said Southee. "That was the thinking behind the decision. You look at the surface and make the decision on what you think will give you the best chance. Not all the time do you get it right." You May Also Like
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