Muscat: Thirty wickets fell in 150 overs in less than two days. Was it poor pitch or not learning a lesson from the first innings? England, who were bowled out for 112 runs in the first innings after winning the toss, came back on the second day to bowl India out for just 145 keeping the lead to just 33 runs.
Yes, the pitch was difficult but not if the players had applied themselves as shown by Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli on the first day.
Sunil Gavaskar summed up very well that on a seaming wicket, you either bat on the front foot or on the back foot, but the skills of a player on a turning pitch can be seen if he uses his feet and goes down the wicket and smothers the spin.
And not any batsman from England did that even in the second innings too, falling for just 81 runs, their lowest score against India.
Yes, there is a debate as the test match ended in less than two days but a player mettle and skill is tested when he proves himself under different conditions be it seam, swing or a spinning track. England have themselves to blame as they first did not read the pitch well and picked just one main line spinner in Jack Leach.
Whereas India picked three spinners. Secondly, England’s policy of giving players rest and rotation has cost them big. They send back Moeen Ali, who had a decent test match with the ball and would have been handful on this wicket.
Moreover, he is more than a handy batsman who could have added depth to their batting. Secondly, Johnny Bairstow who did so well in Sri Lanka was sent home to rest before he came back for the third test. Why would you break the rhythm of a player who is in good touch and played spin so well on rank turners in Sri Lanka?
Test matches are won with skill and temperament and England let India off the hook after winning a vital toss and not because of the pitch being a rank turner.
