ENG vs IND: Southee defends England's decision to bowl after India's Leeds show

England bowling coach Tim Southee has defended captain Ben Stokes's decision to bowl first after India piled on a commanding 359 for 3 on the opening day of the first Test at Headingley. Centuries from Yashasvi Jaiswal and new captain Shubman Gill put India in complete control on a surface that offered little assistance once the early morning moisture dried out.advertisementThe decision to field raised eyebrows, especially given the nature of the pitch and India's response with the bat. However, Southee, who is part of England's coaching staff as a consultant for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, insisted the call was made based on Thursday's pitch reading.ENG vs IND 1st Test Day 1 Highlights
"I think with the colour of the wicket yesterday and a little bit of, I guess, moisture left in it. There was gonna be a little bit of probably this morning, so, yeah, I think that's the thinking behind the decision," Southee explained. "I think the Indian openers sort of negotiated that first hour relatively well. KL Rahul left well and, and Jaiswal played his hand as well throughout. So I think there was a little bit of assistance there, but for the rest of that it was a pretty good surface I guess is encouraging for our guys when we get an opportunity to bat as well."advertisementJaiswal (101) and Gill (127 not out) showcased composure and class as they stitched together a 129-run stand for the third wicket, lifting India from a shaky 92 for 2 after KL Rahul (42) and debutant B Sai Sudharsan (0) had fallen in quick succession. Rishabh Pant (65 not out) added further impetus in the final session, helping India finish with a flourish, scoring at 4.22 runs per over, to reach 359 for 3 at the close of play on Day 1.Jaiswal was playing his first Test in England, Gill his fourth, and Sai Sudharsan was on debut - a fact that may have played into England's thinking at the toss. The last six Tests at Headingley had all seen the team bowling first emerge victorious, but critics suggested England were too focused on past results rather than current conditions."Don't think you think too much. You look at the surface and you make a decision on what you think is gonna give you the best chance. Not all the time you get it right," Southee admitted. "But I think, you look at the weather around and I guess there's a little bit of moisture left in that wicket this morning. I think the first hour or so there's gonna be potentially a little bit, but historically with this weather around it's gonna be turned into a pretty, pretty good surface at some stage."advertisementWhile England's bowlers toiled for long spells, India's performance marked a significant shift in their batting era, with Jaiswal and Gill making a strong statement in the absence of senior figures like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Their innings not only laid a strong platform for India but also set the tone for the newly established five-Test Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.The challenge for England now is to respond with the bat - and hope the surface, as Southee suggested, remains good enough for them to claw their way back into the contest. You May Also Like

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

NDTV

28 minutes ago

• NDTV

'Game Could Be Out Of Reach If...': England Legend's Massive Warning For Ben Stokes And Co

After a dominating display by Indian batters on the opening day of the first Test at Headingley, former England pacer Stuart Broad feels that the visiting side reaching beyond 550 would possibly move the match away from Ben Stokes-led side. Asked to bat first, openers KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal gave a strong start to the side and stitched a 91-run stand for the first wicket. KL Rahul departed after scoring 42 while Jaiswal went on to slam his maiden Test hundred in England. India captain Shubman Gill (127 not out) also slammed his first century and was involved in an ongoing 138-run fourth-wicket partnership with Rishabh Pant (67 not out) to take the side to 359/3 at stumps on Day 1. "England would have been hoping to pick up five, maybe six wickets on the day - that would have made for a strong start. But the pitch played really well, and the way the Indian batters controlled the tempo was just outstanding. There was that wobble at lunch - two wickets just before the break - which would have given England a lot of hope, and maybe put some pressure on the Indian dressing room. But the way Jaiswal and captain Gill came out after lunch and settled things down in that middle session - when England were looking to strike - was just wonderful batting," JioHotstar expert Broad said. "It is a young batting line-up, but they batted with real presence and maturity. They judged the tempo brilliantly, made the bowlers work hard, and did not give away any easy wickets. Without a doubt, it was India's day. They were superb. England will have a lot to think about - there's pressure now, because if India gets to 550 or 600, the game could be out of reach," he added. Broad reflected on England's missed opportunities and praised India's disciplined batting performance. "Some of the shots were just superb. England planned to bowl full, and Headingley is statistically the best venue in the UK to pitch it up. That fuller length brings the slips into play and invites the drive. But the Indian batters did not miss those drives. They timed them beautifully, played them late, and let the ball swing, especially Jaiswal and KL Rahul. When you look at the highlights, it's just drive after drive, which might make it seem like England bowled poorly, but it was just exceptional batting," Broad said. "The Indian batting line-up read the conditions better than expected and adapted superbly. That's what you do as a Test cricketer - you think positively, assess where you are, and plan your comeback. The key for England now is to break this partnership first thing tomorrow. With Gill and Pant at the crease overnight, they could run away with the game. England will be eyeing that second new ball early - but no doubt, it has been all India today. A brilliant way for them to begin the series. It was a joy to watch," he added. England will look to bounce back on Day 2 with an eye on breaking the partnership between Gill and Pant and wrapping India's first innings as early as possible.

The Hindu

34 minutes ago

• The Hindu

India vs England Live Score, 1st Test Day 2: IND set to resume on 359/3 vs ENG; Gill, Pant at crease; streaming info

Live India vs England Live Score, 1st Test Day 2: IND set to resume on 359/3 vs ENG; Gill, Pant at crease; streaming info IND vs ENG, Live Score: Catch the scores, updates and highlights from Day 2 of the first Test of Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series taking place at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday. Updated : Jun 21, 2025 14:17 IST Welcome to Sportstar's live coverage from Day 2 of the first Test between England and India taking place at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday. Centuries from skipper Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal have put India on track for a formidable first innings total. Rishabh Pant too remains unbeaten after a half-century. England's bowlers have struggled to keep the runs down on a pitch conducive for batting and will need a flurry of wickets on the second day of play to make a comeback into the game.

Time of India

38 minutes ago

• Time of India

IND vs ENG, Headingley weather: Will rain play spoilsport on Day 2? Latest weather in Leeds

Headingley cricket ground is hosting the first Test between India and England. (AP) India will look to build on their dominance on Day 1 of the first Test against England at Headingley, Leeds. Shubman Gill (127*) and Rishabh Pant (65*) will pick up from overnight's 359/3 in Yorkshire to put pressure on England bowling that looked out of ideas at many stages on the first day of the five-match series. However, all that could be hampered by rain with weather not looking too kind on the two teams. As per Accuweather, there is a yellow warning for thunderstorm in the region. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! With play set to start at 11am UK time, there is little chance of rain (5% chance of precipitation). However, that is expected to change after the lunch hours with 56% chance of rain at 2pm before the warning for thunderstorms kicks in at 3pm (49% chances of rain). Dominant India on Day 1! Jaiswal & Gill Hit Centuries | ENG vs IND 1st Test - Sahil from Leeds As per BBC, the Met Office's warning - issued at 10:35 BST on June 20 - for West Yorkshire reads, "Scattered thunderstorms may cause some impacts Saturday afternoon, into the evening and night," while mentioning the 3pm to 4am period. The odds of rain remain until 6pm local time before picking up against at 8pm onwards. Weather prediction for Headingley, Leeds on June 21. (Image: BBC) On the opening day of the Test, Yashasvi Jaiswal and captain Shubman Gill announced their readiness to carry India's batting into the post Virat Kohli-Rohit Sharma era, striking marvellous hundreds. Gill (127 batting) and Jaiswal (101, 159b) shared a 129-run partnership for a determined third wicket alliance that carried India to 221 from a slightly wobbly 92 for two after KL Rahul (42) and debutant B Sai Sudharsan (0) were dismissed in quick succession. Rishabh Pant (65 batting) was keeping vigil with Gill at close. (with inputs from PTI) Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here