Title: England Disrespected the Cricketing Gods: Ashwin after India’s Win
The Oval Test between India and England was a thrilling encounter, with the visiting team eventually emerging victorious to draw the series 2-2. However, the match will be remembered for more than just the result, as India’s ace spinner R. Ashwin provided some scathing criticism of England’s batting, particularly Harry Brook’s reckless approach. Ashwin’s comments were aimed at Brook’s failure to finish the job, which he believes led to England’s collapse and ultimately, their defeat.
The match itself was a see-saw affair, with both teams trading blows. England, chasing a target of 374, were cruising at 301/3, with Brook and Joe Root sharing a partnership of 141 runs. However, the visitors’ bowlers, led by Ashwin and Jack Leach, staged a remarkable comeback, dismissing the hosts for 266. In their second innings, England were left with a daunting task of chasing 374, but Brook’s failure to take the game away from the opposition proved to be their undoing.
Ashwin, who played a crucial role in the match, was effusive in his praise for his team’s effort, but his words were laced with venom when it came to Brook’s batting. “Harry Brook, by not finishing the job, disrespected the cricketing gods,” Ashwin said in the post-match presentation. “I think he was reckless and didn’t respect the opposition. He was playing for his personal stats rather than winning the game for his team.”
Ashwin’s criticism was not limited to Brook alone. He also took aim at England’s batting unit as a whole, stating that they failed to adapt to the conditions and the opposition. “I think they got it wrong from the start,” Ashwin said. “They didn’t respect the opposition, they didn’t respect the conditions, and they didn’t respect the game. They were playing for their personal stats and not for the team.”
The Indian spinner’s comments have sparked a heated debate, with many questioning whether his words were justified. Brook’s critics argue that he was playing a responsible innings, given the situation, and that he was not the only one responsible for England’s collapse. However, Ashwin’s point about Brook’s reckless batting is hard to ignore.
Brook’s innings was marked by a series of aggressive shots, including a couple of sixes off Leach, which ultimately proved to be his downfall. He was dismissed for 42, and his wicket was the start of a collapse that saw England lose seven wickets for 66 runs. Ashwin’s criticism may have been harsh, but it is hard to disagree with his assessment of Brook’s batting.
The Oval Test will be remembered for many years to come, not just for the result, but for the drama and controversy that surrounded it. Ashwin’s comments have added fuel to the fire, and it remains to be seen how Brook and England’s batting unit will respond to the criticism. For now, though, Ashwin’s words will be remembered as a stinging rebuke to England’s batting, and a reminder that, in cricket, respect for the opposition and the game is paramount.
