NEW DELHI: Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly lauded England for winning the ODI series after losing the T20I series. India misplaced through eight wickets as England rode on Joe Root's 13th ODI century to chase down a target of 257 in 44.three overs on Tuesday. The series ended 2-1 in the house group's favour.
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In his column for the Times of India, Ganguly wrote, "England bounced back strongly in the ODI series and by the end of the shortest and shorter versions of the game it's one-all. After having lost the last game of the three-match T20 series and then the first ODI, England turned it around based on a more planned approach in countering the strong Indian batting and the guile of their bowlers, especially the spinners."
Root and England captain Eoin Morgan were thinking about an unbeaten 186-run partnership. It was the second one consecutive hundred for Root after his effort at the Lord's, and it puts him in good stead for the five-Test series beginning on August 1.
"Eoin Morgan needs a mention, not only for his batting effort in the third ODI but for winning the toss at Lord's and Headingley and taking the right call. At Lord's he opted to bat first realising there was a possibility the pitch would slow down. Being a local boy, he got it right. At Headingley, he invited India to bat first understanding that whatever moisture was in the pitch would settle down to make batting easier during the chase. A captain sets the tone for a team and I think Morgan did exactly that on both occasions," Ganguly added.
With his winning knock, Root went top of the record amongst English batsmen to attain ODI loads. Root was instrumental in the method England contended with Kuldeep Yadav since the Lord's game. Ever since regaining his composure towards wrist spin, Root drove England to victory in the latter games of this series.
"Joe Root's coming to the party helped in a big way. He not only propped up the English middle-order but showed his teammates how to go about handling the wrist spin of Kuldeep and Chahal. Judging the length, using the feet to smother the spin, and rotating the strike helped the England innings never to choke. Root's confidence rubbed off on to the others and that is why it is so important to have someone in the middle-order who can control the game and allow others to play around him. The English bowling picked itself up, Rashid standing out with his control and variation. Moeen Ali's liking for Indian batters continued and both he and Rashid allowed England to get a grip of the game in the middle-overs," wrote certainly one of India's most a success captains.
Ganguly slammed the Indian group management for his or her enjoying XI in the series decider, including that constant experimentation in the middle-order is hurting the facet and KL Rahul should be given a long run at the No.four spot.
"If England had the Root effect, India lost steam in the last two games. It was not clear why Umesh and Rahul were not included in the third ODI. Bhuvneshwar was coming out of an injury and did not look 100 percent, but Umesh already looked in good rhythm. Siddharth Kaul was also in good form except for the Lord's game. Rahul is a must for Virat in the middle order which needs a bit of strengthening. It's important that the management gives an extended run to the No. 4 so that he can play with a bit of freedom and not worry about his place," Ganguly wrote.
Ganguly believes pacers will have to get a hold of respectable performances in the Test series that starts on August 1, more so if Jasprit Bumrah is injured.
"As long as Virat was at the crease at both Lord's and Headingley, India looked in control but once he left the batting could not keep up the pace. The Indian spinners created havoc in South Africa but the pacers will also have to pick up wickets in overseas conditions. It can't be spinners all the time. Bumrah's injury is a setback but it's important the others stand up as well. The longest part of the series will begin soon and it's important that all contribute," Ganguly concluded.
ALSO READ: Rahul, Rahane not sorted correctly, says Ganguly
In his column for the Times of India, Ganguly wrote, "England bounced back strongly in the ODI series and by the end of the shortest and shorter versions of the game it's one-all. After having lost the last game of the three-match T20 series and then the first ODI, England turned it around based on a more planned approach in countering the strong Indian batting and the guile of their bowlers, especially the spinners."
Root and England captain Eoin Morgan were thinking about an unbeaten 186-run partnership. It was the second one consecutive hundred for Root after his effort at the Lord's, and it puts him in good stead for the five-Test series beginning on August 1.
"Eoin Morgan needs a mention, not only for his batting effort in the third ODI but for winning the toss at Lord's and Headingley and taking the right call. At Lord's he opted to bat first realising there was a possibility the pitch would slow down. Being a local boy, he got it right. At Headingley, he invited India to bat first understanding that whatever moisture was in the pitch would settle down to make batting easier during the chase. A captain sets the tone for a team and I think Morgan did exactly that on both occasions," Ganguly added.
With his winning knock, Root went top of the record amongst English batsmen to attain ODI loads. Root was instrumental in the method England contended with Kuldeep Yadav since the Lord's game. Ever since regaining his composure towards wrist spin, Root drove England to victory in the latter games of this series.
"Joe Root's coming to the party helped in a big way. He not only propped up the English middle-order but showed his teammates how to go about handling the wrist spin of Kuldeep and Chahal. Judging the length, using the feet to smother the spin, and rotating the strike helped the England innings never to choke. Root's confidence rubbed off on to the others and that is why it is so important to have someone in the middle-order who can control the game and allow others to play around him. The English bowling picked itself up, Rashid standing out with his control and variation. Moeen Ali's liking for Indian batters continued and both he and Rashid allowed England to get a grip of the game in the middle-overs," wrote certainly one of India's most a success captains.
Ganguly slammed the Indian group management for his or her enjoying XI in the series decider, including that constant experimentation in the middle-order is hurting the facet and KL Rahul should be given a long run at the No.four spot.
"If England had the Root effect, India lost steam in the last two games. It was not clear why Umesh and Rahul were not included in the third ODI. Bhuvneshwar was coming out of an injury and did not look 100 percent, but Umesh already looked in good rhythm. Siddharth Kaul was also in good form except for the Lord's game. Rahul is a must for Virat in the middle order which needs a bit of strengthening. It's important that the management gives an extended run to the No. 4 so that he can play with a bit of freedom and not worry about his place," Ganguly wrote.
Ganguly believes pacers will have to get a hold of respectable performances in the Test series that starts on August 1, more so if Jasprit Bumrah is injured.
"As long as Virat was at the crease at both Lord's and Headingley, India looked in control but once he left the batting could not keep up the pace. The Indian spinners created havoc in South Africa but the pacers will also have to pick up wickets in overseas conditions. It can't be spinners all the time. Bumrah's injury is a setback but it's important the others stand up as well. The longest part of the series will begin soon and it's important that all contribute," Ganguly concluded.
Rahul is a must for Virat Kohli at No.4: Sourav Ganguly
![Rahul is a must for Virat Kohli at No.4: Sourav Ganguly]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
July 19, 2018
Rating:
