Former captain Michael Vaughan admitted that he was “staggered” by England’s call to bowl first after India reached a commanding 359/3 on day one of the first Test at Headingley. England skipper Ben Stokes chose to field despite the hot weather, giving Shubman Gill the stage for an unbeaten 127 runs and Yashasvi Jaiswal the freedom to smash 101 runs.
In Stokes’ defence, Gill also revealed that he would have bowled first. But Vaughan, speaking to Test Match Special, made his point clear: “I am an old school traditionalist. Here at Leeds, when the sun is shining, with dry weather, you bat.”
‘You have to pick decisions on that moment’ – Michael Vaughan
Vaughan, who led England during the 2005 Ashes triumph, felt Stokes should have read the conditions better: “You always have to pick your decisions on that moment, and not things that you did here years ago or at other times. It can’taffect what the decision is today.”
England bowling coach Tim Southee revealed that the pitch colour and some overnight moisture influenced the call: “With the colour of the wicket yesterday, and a little bit of moisture left in it if there was a little bit of help in it, it was probably going to be this morning.”
Yet Vaughan reminded fans how history repeats itself: “It was a good pitch, so it’s not easy to restrict runs. Ben Stokes is still positive and he will come back tomorrow saying let’s get seven wickets.”
The real test now is how England will handle India’s pace maestro Jasprit Bumrah. As Vaughan put it, “We won’t know that for sure until we see Jasprit Bumrah bowl on it. He can bowl you out with anything. Until I see that, I will hold my judgement on how flat this pitch.”
For latest sports updates: Follow RevSportz