Last Updated on 3 months by Charbel Coorey
India have levelled the five-match series 1-1 after thumping England by 336 runs at Edgbaston. Apart from a 303-run partnership between Harry Brook and Jamie Smith, it was all India as they piled on the runs and took 20 wickets to seal their first-ever win on this ground.
Captain Shubman Gill led from the front with an outstanding performance, amassing 430 runs with a hundred and double hundred. However, the big questions heading into the Test for India is whether their attack had enough firepower to take 20 wickets. They did so with ease in the end.
Akash Deep delivered in spades. Brought into the side in place of the rested Jasprit Bumrah, Akash is now more than just a replacement, but rather an important member of India’s quest to achieve a first series win in England since 2007.
The pacer was magnificent, taking 10 wickets for the match, including six in the second innings. He had the new ball on a string, nipping the ball around to leave England’s top order in tatters in both innings.
Deep was beautifully supported by Mohammed Siraj. He often steps up in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, and did so again with 6/70 in the first innings. This haul set up the game for India as they took a big first innings lead – one they took full advantage of as they piled on 427/6 second time around.
England, disappointingly for their fans, displayed a lack of fight in the fourth innings as the target of 608 was too far gone. To bat just 160 overs in total on such a surface is poor. However, the result goes back to the first innings. Bowling first (and poorly) on a flat Edgbaston pitch, England were always chasing the game, and were unable to match the template they executed at Headingley, albeit with the help of poor Indian fielding.
All in all, Deep and Siraj extracted far more out of the surface than England did. Also, the hosts have now conceded 1,849 runs for the series – a damning stat that is sure to see a bowling attack shakeup for the Lord’s Test. With that match just a few days away, England need to regroup quickly.
Reactions to India smashing England by 337 runs at Edgbaston
Virat Kohli reacted to the fabulous India win. “Brilliantly led by Shubhman with the bat and in the field and impactful performances from everyone. Special mention to Siraj and Akash for the way they bowled on this pitch,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Here are some of the other reactions to India’s big win.
The third Test at Lord’s begins on Thursday July 10.
