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Roger Binny, former World Cup-winning all-rounder did not mince words in criticizing the Indian bowling for their lackluster performance against New Zealand in the final of the World Test Championship in Southampton.

Roger Binny was highly critical of India’s bowling in the first innings on Day 3 of the Test where they allowed New Zealand to get to 101/2 at stumps. The bowlers had to work hard for wickets and even though India managed to pick two wickets, Roger Binny reckons their performance was far from ideal.

Roger Binny: It Was An Absolute Disgrace To Watch The Indian Bowling On The 3rd Day Of The Test

By the end of Day 3, one of the pertinent doubt which baffled Indian fans was the lack of swing which their fast bowlers extracted compared to the ones which the Kiwi pacers did on Day 2, especially with the new Dukes ball in bowling-friendly conditions. India’s new-ball bowlers – Ishant Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah – found even less than half of the swing movement in the first 10 overs which Trent Boult and Tim Southee did in that same phase.

“Watching the Indians bowl on Sunday (the third day of the Test), it was not the way to bowl in a Test in England. It was an absolute disgrace. What did the opposition do to you? What sort of a performance was this? They are playing a Test match,” Binny was quoted as saying by News18.

“When you bowl, you bowl in the batsman’s half. You don’t bowl in your half. They have to play the shots. The shorter you bowl, the more the ball seams. You have to attack to take wickets, not bowl defensively.”

The next day, India dished out a much-improved show with Mohammed Shami picking up 4/76 and Ishant Sharma claiming 3/48, which restricted New Zealand’s first-innings lead to 32. But it could have been prevented has India did not allow the opposition’s tail to wag. New Zealand’s last five batsmen accounted for 71 runs which proved crucial in the end.

Roger Binny Surprised By How Indian Bowlers Bowled As They Didn’t Learn From The New Zealand Bowlers

The architects of New Zealand’s victory were Kane Williamson(49 and 52*), Kyle Jamieson (5/31 in the 1st innings), and Tim Southee (4/48 in the 2nd innings). New Zealand was so disciplined with the ball throughout the match that they didn’t let an Indian batsman score a fifty in the entire Test.

“The Indian bowlers were bowling to contain them. I was very surprised by the way they bowled in a Test in England. The opposition knocks you over with seaming balls. All you have to do is watch them bowl and bowl the same way. You pitch the ball up. The Indian bowlers are not freshers. You are sitting and watching the NZ bowlers bowling to your batsmen. That is how you learn. Weren’t the Indians watching them how they did it?” Roger Binny pointed out.

WTC final: Pleasing to dismiss Virat Kohli, he's 'world-class' batter, says Kyle Jamieson | Photo Credit: AP — WTC final: Pleasing to dismiss Virat Kohli, he’s ‘world-class’ batter, says Kyle Jamieson | Photo Credit: AP

Indian bowlers particularly Jasprit Bumrah was ineffective as he went wicketless and conceded 57 runs in 26 overs. In the 2nd innings too, he went wicketless despite bowling about 11 overs. Ravindra Jadeja had a poor Test as he picked up a solitary wicket and failed with the bat too scoring 15 and 16.

The cricket fraternity criticized team selection as many experts felt a seam-bowling all-rounder like Shardul Thakur should’ve been picked considering the conditions but he wasn’t even named in the final 15 men squad.

In batting, the likes of Cheteshwar Pujara(8 and 15), Shubman Gill (28 and 8), Virat Kohli (44 and 13), Ajinkya Rahane (49 and 15), Rishabh Pant(4 and 41) and Rohit Sharma (34 and 30) didn’t perform up to expectations.