On Monday morning, England were thumped to an inning and 36-run defeat by India in the fourth Test match at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Following an embarrassing run on the tour, former England captain Geoffrey Boycott doesn’t seemed too pleased with the outcome.
As he in his recent column argued or rather asked Andrew Strauss, worryingly, that will his decision of sticking with Alastair Cook and Trevor Bayliss in the selection slot can really fetch results for England in future? Bayliss, who was picked to polish the side’s white-ball game, realising the scheduling of Champions Trophy and the World Cup in England, hasn’t been that effective in the longer format, raising doubts over his approach towards Test cricket.
“Andrew Strauss picked Trevor Bayliss as coach because he wanted England to improve their white-ball cricket to be ready for the 2017 Champions Trophy and the 2019 Cricket World Cup at home.
Also it was said he was good at staying in the background, allowing and encouraging the players to express themselves. Sitting quietly at the back of the dressing room can make you look like a wise man who does not panic. But this lot need some tactical help and knowledge, not just passive silence.”
The former opening batsman wasn’t even happy with the team selection either, saying England should learn from India perceiving the hosts will have a better account of the surfaces in their backyard then them. Picking up four seamers and just two spinners on the dusty track of Mumbai was the last thing England selectors could do, after trailing behind two-nil in the series.
“Bayliss and Alastair Cook are the selectors on tour. Picking four seamers and two spinners, when India had two seamers and three spinners, saddled England with a lopsided team. It was such a massive mistake. I learnt a long time ago that when on tour you accept the opposition know more about their own pitches so watch and learn from them.”
Fuming at the predictable or monotonous mindset of England in Tests, Boycott said lack of imagination will take England no where and even suggested that a change of thought process while playing in sub-continent is must for visitors in coming future.
“There is no imagination from the coach or captain. Our cricket is predictable and based on a regimented formula of four seamers with slips and gully waiting for the nicks. That’s OK at home, but England need a change of thinking in Asia”.
He then asked ECB’s Director of Cricket Andrew Strauss to make much more wiser decision than that of stubborn ones. Strauss, who was handed a job look after England’s cricket, backed Alastair Cook to lead the side following an immediate sacking of Kevin Pietersen on the day he made a triple-hundred for Surrey and appointed Bayliss later on.
“He will not want to admit his choice of captain and coach have made mistakes. He will want to give them his full support, but this is not the time for Strauss to be stubborn. We need him to step up and earn his money.”
With England’s big tour coming up next year, The Ashes in Australia, Boycott asked the million dollar question, Who will lead England?
“Whoever captains in England this summer is going to take the team to Australia so he needs seriously to think about this. Is Cook the man to take us forward? Or is it time for change?”