After India Crushes England by Record Margin; McCullum Admits Tactical Error
Edgbaston, Birmingham :India scripted a historic Test victory at Edgbaston, defeating England by a record margin of 336 runs, marking their first-ever win at the venue in 58 years. England head coach Brendon McCullum acknowledged the team’s miscalculation at the toss, admitting that opting to bowl first backfired badly.
England captain Ben Stokes chose to field after winning the toss on Day 1, anticipating a pitch that would ease out for batting later. However, India turned the decision on its head with a commanding first-innings total of 587 runs, led by a masterclass 269-run innings from captain Shubman Gill, supported by Ravindra Jadeja (89), Yashasvi Jaiswal (87), and Washington Sundar (42).
In response, England managed 407 runs, courtesy of an unbeaten 184 from wicketkeeper Jamie Smith and 154 from Harry Brook. However, the Indian bowling attack, spearheaded by Mohammed Siraj (6/92) and Akash Deep (4/77), ensured a sizeable 180-run lead for the visitors.
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India’s second innings continued the domination, declaring at 427/6, with Gill again shining through with 161, aided by Rishabh Pant (65), KL Rahul (55), and Jadeja’s unbeaten 69. This left England chasing a mammoth target of 608 runs the highest ever set in Edgbaston’s history.
Despite a spirited start, the hosts collapsed for 271 in their second innings, handing India a 336-run win, their largest Test victory by runs on overseas soil, surpassing their 318-run win against West Indies in 2019.
McCullum: “We Misread the Pitch Completely”
After the defeat, coach McCullum admitted the team had erred in judgment:
“We expected the pitch to improve for batting as the match went on. That didn’t happen. India scoring over 580 in the first innings was beyond our expectations, and from there, we were always behind.”
McCullum praised the Smith-Brook partnership that added 303 runs, but acknowledged it was the only major positive for his side. He also highlighted the deteriorating pitch conditions in the latter stages, with visible cracks and variable bounce aiding seamers.
“Akash Deep utilized the pitch brilliantly. Toward the end, it felt like we were playing on a subcontinental surface,” McCullum added.
Eyes on Lord’s: Bumrah Returns for Third Test
With the five-match series now tied at 1-1, attention turns to the third Test starting July 10 at Lord’s, where pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah is set to return for India. McCullum sounded a note of caution:
“Bumrah’s comeback means we’ll need to be sharper in our planning. Shubman Gill was outstanding across both innings, and we couldn’t match India’s quality. They thoroughly deserved this win.”
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