Sunil Gavaskar criticizes Alastair Cook's shot selection

The superlative encounter between England and India seems to play its most important day after Indian team managing to post a 27-run lead on Day two of the fourth Test match. With scoreline being 2-1 in favour of the Englishmen, the team looks to wrap things here. However, the Indian team, who failed to get going in the first two Test matches have finally started to show some resistance and play according to the demand of the conditions.

Cheteshwar Pujara-led Indian batting scored 273 runs after asking the opposition to come and have a bat for the second time. On the other hand, the story with England’s top-order continued in almost the same way as it has been for quite some time now. Both Keaton Jennings and Alastair Cook haven’t been amongst the runs, and more importantly aren’t being able to provide the start which England team management and the skipper would be expecting.

Cook fails yet again

Cook, who came into the side with much hopes and big runs in county cricket has failed miserably with not being able to score in even 40s. In his second innings, seventh overall, he managed to just add 12 runs off 39 deliveries he faced. His short innings was laced with one boundary before falling to a spectacular delivery by Jasprit Bumrah. In the morning session on Day 3, Bumrah was pitching the ball up and asking both the left-handers to drive, in lieu of which Cook had to pay the price.

With pitch offering bit for the fast bowlers and some lateral movement in the air, it was expected that Cook will leave that delivery. However, he went on to chase to which former Indian skipper Sunil Gavaskar, who was talking to BBC Test Match Special said, “He hardly moved his feet and at the third time of asking Rahul latched on to it. Cook once again failing, that can happen when you are short of runs.”

It will be interesting to see if his form will question his selection for the final Test. For now, Cook can just see his dismissal on screen and regret the shot he played.

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