Former England cricketer David Lloyd has criticised Shubman Gill's captaincy during the Edgbaston Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, particularly questioning his defensive field placement when Harry Brook and Jamie Smith's partnership of 303 runs shifted the momentum. Despite India's commanding first-innings total of 587, Lloyd found Gill's decision to spread the field with only two slips puzzling, especially when England were struggling at 84/5.
The partnership between Brook and Smith proved to be a significant turning point in the match. Brook scored 158 runs from 234 balls, while Smith contributed 184 runs from 207 deliveries. Their stand ranks as the second-best partnership for England's sixth wicket and the third-best against India overall.
"The runaway train. This game quickly went away from Shubman Gill. With 587 in the bank, I thought it was strange that the field was so defensive with only two slips. Regardless of the counter from Brook and Smith, that was the time to keep the pressure on. With three slips in there, it would have at least made them think twice because a few chances went there," Lloyd wrote in his Daily Mail column.
England's innings witnessed a dramatic collapse after the Brook-Smith partnership. The team lost their final five wickets for just 20 runs, ultimately conceding a 180-run lead to India.
India ended the day's play at 64/1, extending their lead to 244 runs.
"What a topsy-turvy day of cricket, with quite a remarkable scorecard in the end. Six of the England team were out for ducks. They were staring down the barrel, then came a magnificent counter attack and then from nowhere, the tail was blown away by Siraj, with Smith left high and dry on 184. Surely somebody could have stayed with him," Lloyd noted.
Lloyd attributed England's batting collapses to mental fatigue rather than pitch conditions.
"Much of the talk on day two was that this is a lousy pitch. That went a bit quiet when England were 84 for five and in a bit of a pickle. Mental fatigue played a part because the batters' minds were scrambled after two days in the field. That's a great part of Test cricket. The Aussies called it mental disintegration. Apart from Brook and Smith, who played excellently, England were mentally spent," Lloyd explained.
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