- England trail India by 510 runs with seven wickets remaining in the second Test
- Gill put India in the driving seat on Wednesday as England’s openers fell
- Richard Gibson takes you inside some of the major talking points for this Test
Test Match Breakfast takes a look at some of the biggest issues around cricket during England’s huge second Test against India at Edgbaston.
In this edition, RICHARD GIBSON looks at why England’s squad were kept away from county cricket before the start, what Sky have been doing with Stuart Broad, and the India star who broke travel protocol.
The last time there were at least 90 overs in a day’s play at a Test in England was the second day of the 2023 Ashes here at Edgbaston when Moeen Ali and Joe Root bowled 36 overs of spin between them.
This is the 13th match since and even though off-spinner Shoaib Bashir operated for lengthy spells and Root was employed again along with another bowler with a minimal run-up in Harry Brook, there were only 86 sent down on day two.
Instead of being dispatched to play county cricket this week, England’s squad members were told they must remain in Birmingham until the first ball was bowled on the opening morning.
Part of the reasoning was that head coach Brendon McCullum believes in fostering team spirit beyond just the playing XI, yet the decision meant players missed out on game time in the County Championship with the Kookaburra ball to be used in next winter’s Ashes down under.
Jofra Archer and Jacob Bethell could have travelled down to Hove for Sussex’s Division One clash, but have been practising during intervals of the Test match as an alternative.
Both were seen on the outfield bowling left-arm spin yesterday with coaches Marcus Trescothick, Jeetan Patel and Moeen Ali on hand.
Although it is natural enough for Bethell to be drilling his slow left-armers, fast bowler Archer switches bowling arms and the pace at which he releases the ball as a party piece.
England’s players missed out on County Cricket as they were kept in England training
Brendon McCullum believes in fostering team spirit beyond just the playing XI, so his men missed out on the Kookaburra ball experiment
Perennial optimist Jeetan Patel was wheeled out by England after they conceded 587 and lost three new-ball wickets.
Patel immediately offered a prediction that Ben Stokes’ team could still win.
Cue scoffs from the floor, to which the Kiwi reminded the doubters he made such claims before – and they have come true.
Spin bowling coach Jeetan Patel was mocked for his optimism, but he has a good record of predictions coming true
Stuart Broad was not part of the Sky Sports commentary team for the second day after being dispatched to Silverstone.
Keen to use their personnel to promote coverage of other sports events, Sky dispatched the former England fast bowler to interview drivers ahead of this weekend’s British Grand Prix.
Sky already tap into the 39-year-old’s versatility by using him as a studio analyst on Premier League football nights.
Stuart Broad was whisked away to Silverstone by Sky, hence he missed the second day
Ravindra Jadeja broke India’s travel protocols on the second morning but is unlikely to face punishment.
After the Australia tour earlier this year, the Indian board made it clear the entire team must arrive at and depart from match venues on a team bus.
However, veteran Jadeja headed to Edgbaston alone for extra practice ahead of resuming his innings on 41, wary that India had collapsed twice in Leeds last week.
It did the trick as he hit 89, sharing in a double century stand with captain Shubman Gill.
Share or comment on this article:
TEST MATCH BREAKFAST: Why England’s stars were kept away from county cricket’s Kookaburra experiment – and Sky’s plans for Stuart Broad