There was an extra buzz in the Wankhede when England’s ninth wicket fell on Monday. Not because India were a wicket away from another Test win. Not because the hosts were a wicket away from 3-0. But, because it was James Anderson’s turn to walk out.
About 17 hours prior, Anderson had personally invited criticism from most of India, and much of world cricket. He had questioned the brilliance of Virat Kohli at a time when he is one of the finest batsmen in the globe. But more intriguingly, Anderson raised doubts about the Indian captain’s class with the bat at a time when he averaged 128 in four Tests against his team.
Anderson’s comments reeked of sourness
Anderson had gone public with his belief that the Indian pitches hid Kohli’s flaws. “I’m not sure he’s changed,” Anderson had quipped in the press conference at the end of Day 4. “I just think any technical deficiencies he’s got aren’t in play out here. The wickets just take that out of the equation.”
The pacer ever went on to claim that Kohli, who had endured a nightmarish tour of England two years ago, would be found out on the seaming tracks even today. “We had success against him in England, but the pace of the pitches over here just take any flaws he has out of the equation. There’s not that pace in the wicket to get the nicks, like we did against him in England with a bit more movement. Pitches like this suit him down to the ground.”
Every individual has a right to his opinion. Parthiv Patel reserved his when he questioned the quality of the English spinners. Likewise, Anderson had the right to express what he had in mind. But this sudden show of aggression from him was as out of place as the English batsmen had looked against Indian spin.
Anderson could not have timed it worse. His remarks came at a time when India were four wickets away from a famous win at the Wankhede. Apart from the first Test in Rajkot, England had lacked even a semblance of fight in the series. Including the first Test in Rajkot, the visitors had refused to showcase their understanding of aggression; till they dropped in to Mumbai. They tried to show that they had an aggressive streak in them twice – with the bat in the second innings and with the mic on the cusp of a massive defeat.
Ashwin made his displeasure known
Kohli had not, but Ravichandran Ashwin had read about Anderson’s views overnight. And he wanted to make sure Anderson knew he had read them. The newly appointed Indian vice-captain, in AjinkyaRahane’s absence, was in the mood to stand up for his skipper.
Thus, when Anderson walked out to bat, Ashwin accompanied him in his walk. – eye for eye, step for step. A pleasantry here, a greeting there – the Indian all-rounder wanted to ensure England’s last man was handed a warm welcome to the middle.
It took the umpires and Kohli, in his mature avatar, to step in and prevent Ashwin from taking matters too far. But it was not just Ashwin, there was a chirp among the team now. And then it was time for Ravindra Jadeja, of all people, to bowl to Anderson.
Who can possibly forget the incident between Jadeja and Anderson on India’s tour of 2014 as the teams headed back to the pavilion at Trent Bridge. India had always believed that the incident was not resolved as per their expectations. So, Jadeja decided to have another crack at his familiar foe. Again, the umpires and Kohli had to step in.
Kohli, the mediator (yes, you read that right)
In the post-match presser, Kohli revealed of his role in the sanity that was eventually managed. “For the first time I was trying to calm things down in the middle at a time when [Anderson] is involved,” he explained. “Ashwin wasn’t pleased with what he said in the press, but I didn’t even know about it. So I didn’t know what to make of it. I was laughing about it.”
Kohli even went on to add how he called truce with Anderson out in the middle.
“Ashwin wasn’t too impressed and he let him know, not using any bad words honestly. I think he told him he was pretty disappointed with what he said and it is important to accept defeat as it is. Things like that. Just general, you know how Ashwin is, he is to the point, he can really strike you well and he doesn’t need to say bad words. Later on I told James these things happen and let’s move on.”
Move on is what Kohli hoped for then, but talking to the official broadcaster after the game, he had minced fewer words. “He (Anderson) asked me if we could have a word after the game. I told him there was no need to. The result and the performance can be seen on the scoreboard. Everybody knows who has performed how well. You could see he was guilty.”
It, however, remained ironical that the very aggression that had landed England’s premier pacer in a soup now was what everyone craved from the tourists right through the series. But they refused to oblige.
Rajkot was England’s best chance. It was the only wicket in the series that would not turn like another Indian wicket. England even managed the first innings lead. But when it came to leaving India a target to chase, they batted without hurry or the intent to have enough time to bowl India out. India survived the match, and turned the tables thereon.
No fight in England
Post the surprise approach in the first Test, the tourists were expected to bring in that dash of aggression in Visakhapatnam. A target of 405 in more than a day and a half is what they were asked to chase. Even on the wearing pitch that Vizag had come up with, the target was achievable.
But that is not what England believed, or showed. Haseeb Hameed and Alsatair Cook crawled to an opening stand of 75 in 50.2 overs. They blocked and blocked with the objective of a draw in mind. But with turn on offer, defence was never going to be their best form of attack.From 87 for 2 in 59.2 overs, they lost their next eight wickets for a mere 71 runs.
When the teams moved to Mohali, Cook’s men once again had India in a spot of bother. At five for 156, India could have fallen short of England’s first innings total of 283.
But instead of attacking on the field with aggressive field placements or bowling, England allowed India’s tail to slip away. India managed a lead of 134, and with it another comprehensive victory.
All of the first three Tests had provided England with an opportunity keep India on the mat. But, instead, they decided to be generous.
When at the Wankhede, the situation demanded that they show more steel with the bat, they surrendered themselves by throwing their wickets away. The madness with the bat was preceded by the misplaced verbal aggression from Anderson. And the two combined to extend England’s agony on a tour that has already shattered England’s record as one of the better travellers of India.