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After suffering thumping defeat in the second Test match against Team India, England`s head coach, Brendon McCullum, admitted that the hosts were not able to play in the way they wanted to and also stated that they missed an opportunity at the time of the toss.
“We ran second for five days. I thought India played exceptionally well. Shubman Gill was at an elite level and played brilliantly on this pitch. We weren’t quite able to play how we wanted to on it, and they thoroughly deserved to win,” McCullum said in an interview with BBC Test Match Special.
“I think as the game unfolded we probably looked back on that toss and said did we miss an opportunity there and it’s probably fair. We didn’t expect that the wicket would play quite as it did and hence we probably got it slightly wrong,” he added.
Chasing a target of 608 runs, the hosts were bowled out for 271 runs. With this victory, India levelled the series at 1-1 under Shubman Gill`s captaincy.
Apart from Gill`s centuries (269 in the first innings and 161 in the second innings), Akash Deep`s heroics with the ball were the highlights of the second Test.
“But we did have them 200-5 and we weren’t able to capitalise on that position and when you win the toss and bowl you’re hoping to, well you’re not anticipating the opposition’s going to score 580 and then from that point we’re behind the game,” said the 43-year-old.
In England`s first innings, Harry Brook scored 158 runs in 234 balls, including 17 boundaries and a maximum. He was supported by Jamie Smith, who stayed unbeaten on 184 runs. His knock came in 207 deliveries, which was with 21 boundaries and four maximums.
Speaking about their knocks, McCullum said that it was the only thing that helped them to get any balance in the game.
“It was only a brilliant partnership from Jamie Smith and Harry Brook which gave us any balance in the game throughout the five days. That’s something we’ve got to look at. We’re not rigid with our plans,” said the veteran of 101 Test matches.
(With IANS Inputs)
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