According to England head coach Brendon McCullum, the team will need to reassess their approach after being “exposed” in the final four matches against India. Despite suffering their first series defeat under McCullum’s watch, he believes this experience will ultimately make them a stronger side.
The five-test series was seen as a major test of England’s aggressive style of test cricket, characterized by fearless and bold batting. Their goal of handing India their first test series loss on home soil since 2012 got off to a promising start with a thrilling win in Hyderabad, led by Ollie Pope’s impressive performance.
However, their momentum quickly waned as India won the next four matches, ultimately claiming the series 4-1 and dampening the excitement surrounding England’s approach to the game. McCullum acknowledged, “Sometimes you can get away with things, but when you’re exposed in the way we have been, it requires deep reflection and adjustment.”
He noted that the team became more cautious as the series progressed, attributing this shift to the pressure exerted by India’s strong lineup. England’s batting performance was a major disappointment, particularly in the absence of Harry Brook, who withdrew from the series due to personal reasons.
Looking ahead, McCullum expressed confidence that England will emerge stronger from this setback when they face West Indies in a three-test series in July, followed by another home series against Sri Lanka. He stated, “A lot of good will come out of this tour. I’m 100% positive about that.”
Both Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir stood out as England’s top wicket-takers in their debut series, raising the possibility of Jack Leach facing competition as the team’s preferred spinner. McCullum acknowledged Leach’s understanding of the situation, especially considering his absence in the final four tests against India due to a knee injury.
He emphasized the value of having depth and different options in the squad, noting that there will be challenging selection decisions to be made throughout the upcoming summer matches. Despite the disappointment of the series loss, McCullum remains optimistic about the team’s growth and development moving forward.
(Reporting by Amlan Chakraborty in New Delhi; editing by Peter Rutherford)
