New Delhi: Ahead of the second Test against England in Birmingham, starting Wednesday, former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar shared his insights on how Gill and Co. can bounce back by sharpening close-in fielding and said the visitors real focus on developing a best catcher in the gully and slips, area where a lot of those catches go.
Despite posting a combined 835 runs across their two innings, India’s bowling attack, barring Jasprit Bumrah, failed to impose themselves on the English batters. After being ahead of England in most of the sessions in the first Test match, India failed to capitalise on the advantage on the final day and close out a win, with the hosts securing a five-wicket victory on the back of Ben Duckett’s 149.
“The best way to win this particular Test match is by looking at the combination. And that’s why I believe that if the top order and the middle order performed so well for India in the first Test match, then I don’t think the team management should really worry about who is going to give you runs at number eight,” Bangar said on Star Sports.
“So play a proper bowler at number eight, and that could really improve the chance of India winning the Test match. Because 470 or whatever runs that India got in the first innings, the target that they set in the fourth innings was still a sufficient number of runs for the team to have bowled England out twice. So I think the onus should be on the bowling department that have another bowler, but try and bowl out England twice,” he added.
India’s loss was especially frustrating due to a dismal fielding display. The team dropped eight catches — the third-most they’ve ever spilled in a Test match. Yashasvi Jaiswal was at the center of the struggles, accounting for half of the missed chances. He put down three in the slip cordon (at third slip, fourth slip, and gully) and another in the outfield.
Speaking about the importance of not dropping catches, Bangar said, “It’s very important to not drop catches. It makes the job of the bowling department that much more tougher. But here I would say that this is also a fresh step forward for India. IANS
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