Former England captain Michael Atherton has put the onus on Joe Root and James Anderson to carry the injured hosts forward in the ongoing Test series against India.
India dominated the first two Tests, winning the second Test in spectacular fashion as England, missing their top fast bowlers and all-rounder Ben Stokes due to injuries, failed to perform at the optimum level.
Only captain Joe Root and 39-year-old pacer James Anderson have done remarkable performances. Root is the leading run-scorer in the Test series with 386 runs while Anderson has taken nine wickets.
“In two matches, England have competed for a long period, and that is without some serious cricketers – Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer, and Chris Woakes absent for two Tests and Stuart Broad for one,” he said in the Telegraph. Atherton wrote in the column.
“He has the advantage of two of his great cricketers in James Anderson and Joe Root, and in Test cricket, great players can make a lot of ground for boundaries elsewhere. All is not lost,” Atherton said.
Praising the Indian team’s spirit and will to win, the former England opener said the visiting team should have led 2-0 by now.
“The ferocity of his game, his desire to win, and his skill to lead him through difficult moments, is how the Nottingham Test will end, but rain should have dispelled any doubts. For all intents and purposes, India should be up 2-0,” he further wrote.
“While domestic sensibilities will inevitably focus on England’s final day performance on Monday, which was very goofy and then lame, it was India that made an indelible mark,” Atherton said.
He praised England for fighting despite its paucity of resources but said not much could be done.
“In the short term, not much needs to be done, given the injuries and the lack of options for domestic first-class cricket to be made available,” he said.
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