Former player Owais Shah has slammed the England’s senior batters for failing to score runs once again on the first day of the fifth Test against India in Dharamsala on Thursday, March 7.
The visitors were bowled out for 218 in their first innings after Ben Stokes won the toss and opted to bat first. India were 135/1, trailing the English team by 83 runs with nine wickets in hand.
Owais Shah was unhappy with Ben Stokes, Joe Root, and Jonny Bairstow.
“It is disappointing to see England failing to get going despite brilliant start by both openers. They have been giving good starts but the middle order is not contributing. I don’t understand the reason. They are not kids. Ben Stokes, Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow have been magnificent in the past but they have surrendered in front of the Indian bowlers,” he said.
Shah refused to accept that there was any pressure.
“There was no pressure as the series has already been won by India. I know England batters crumbled under pressure in the second innings of the fourth Test in Ranchi but the situation was completely different here.”
Zak Crawley (79) was the top run-scorer for England.
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