England face a Test of Grit in Rajkot with a Flat Pitch and Fiery Batters
England's bowlers might still be fresh-faced rookies, but it’s the batsmen who face the ultimate challenge on the pancake-flat Rajkot pitch this week, says cricket legend David Lloyd.
History suggests Rajkot offers little advantage to the team winning the toss, with recent matches seeing mountains of runs on both sides. This could lead to a long, drawn-out affair, but England’s aggressive approach under Ben Stokes might shake things up.
While Virat Kohli’s absence is a blow, India’s batting lineup remains strong. Yashasvi Jaiswal, the series’ leading run-scorer, has been a thorn in England’s side. Lloyd suggests an unorthodox approach to tackle him: tempt him with deep fielders and dangle the “carrot” of big boundaries, similar to the trap Ben Stokes set for Shreyas Iyer in the previous Test.
For England to succeed, one of their top six needs a monumental century. Scores in the 20s and 30s won’t cut it. They must forget the “pleasant 50s” and embrace the aggressive “Bazball” philosophy.