India would have been 2-0 up if not for rain in Nottingham: Michael Atherton

Former England player and cricket broadcaster Michael Atherton feels that India, who currently lead England 1-0 in the five-Test series, would have been 2-0 instead if not for a washout on the final day of Nottingham Test. India secured a historic 151-run win over the hosts in the second Test at Lord’s; however, it was not the first time in the series when Virat Kohli’s men seemed to be in a winning position.

At Trent Bridge, where the series-opener was played, India needed merely 157 runs on the fifth and final day with nine wickets intact. Although, not even single ball could be delivered as persistent rain enforced a draw. Much to India’s respite, the weather during the Lord’s Test did not play a part, as they registered a comprehensive victory to gain crucial lead in the series, The two teams will be playing the next Test at Headingley from August 25 onwards.

To all intent and purposes, India should be 2-0 up: Michael Atherton

“Although home sensibilities will focus, inevitably, on England’s final day performance on Monday, which was by far unintelligent and then limp, it was India who left an indelible impression,” Atherton wrote in his column for the Telegraph.

“The ferocity of their play, their will to win, and their skill to carry them through difficult moments, should have removed any doubts about how the Nottingham Test would have finished but for rain. To all intent and purposes, India should be 2-0 up,” he added.

“Over two matches, England have competed for long periods, and this without some serious cricketers – Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer, and Chris Woakes absent for two Tests and Stuart Broad for one. They have the benefit of two of their greatest cricketers, in James Anderson and Joe Root, and in Test cricket, great players can make up a lot of ground for limitations elsewhere. All is not lost,” he said.

“In short term, given the injuries and lack of domestic first-class cricket to provide alternatives, there is not a great deal to be done. They will (and should) make an alteration at the top of the order, if only to reiterate the principle that performance matters,” he signed off.