'Horrible tactics' - Shane Warne questions Joe Root's captaincy against Indian tail-enders

India registered a historic triumph at the Lord’s Cricket Stadium in the second of the five-Test Pataudi Trophy, as they handed a 151-run defeat to the hosts to gain a 1-0 lead in the series. On the back of a stellar 129 from KL Rahul and 83 from Rohit Sharma, India posted 364 in the first innings after being inserted to bat first. England skipper Joe Root’s magnificent unbeaten 180 in response meant that the hosts managed to take a small, albeit handy 27-run lead, as they were dismissed for 391.

India had their fair share of problems in the second innings after they lost in-form openers early, before also losing skipper Virat Kohli cheaply, however, a stodgy alliance between two of India’s mainstays – Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane, both in dire need of runs themselves – meant India fought back.

However, in the game of fluctuating fortunes, England managed to peg them back again on the final day by claiming two quicks wickets in form of Rishabh Pant and Ishant Sharma, before an uncharacteristic, and a record stand for the ninth wicket between Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami led them to set a stiff 272-run target on a deteriorating Lord’s track.

Horrible tactics from England: Shane Warne

England suffered yet another collapse to bring the spotlight on their declining Test batting stocks as India bundled them out for 120 runs, with Mohammed Siraj picking four, Bumrah three and Ishant two wickets. However, before that, it was England’s tactics against the Indian tail that caught many by surprise.

Shami and Bumrah added for the ninth wicket 89 runs off 120 deliveries as England skipper Joe Root kept the field spread out, allowing both of them to add runs easily in the middle. Shami went on to slam a half-century (56 off 70), whereas Bumrah remained unbeaten on 34 off 64 before India declared their innings at 298/8.

Meanwhile, highlighting England’s strange fielding positions and bizarre tactics, Australia legend Shane Warne tweeted: ‘Horrible tactics from England. Why don’t the bowlers say, “no I don’t want five or six fielders on the fence – as how am I getting the batsman out, skip? ‘Although England have been terrible tactically at Lords, it’s been great to see India fight and I will say this again: how good is Test cricket, love it.’

Following the drawn Test at Trent Bridge, India are now 1-0 up with three matches remaining, starting at Headingley on August 25.