Bangladesh posted what was probably the biggest win in their cricketing history when they defeated England by 108 runs at Dhaka on Sunday. The victory was Bangladesh’s first in Test cricket against England.
English cricket legend Sir Ian Botham, said that he wasn’t surprised by England’s batting collapse in the fourth innings as it is something to be expected in the sub-continent. The visitors went from 100/0 to 164 all out in a crazy post-tea session on Sunday.
“It (a rapid collapse) can happen in that part of the world. The wickets are tailored, they are designed to spin. When you see spinners opening in Tests with the new ball, you get an idea of what’s coming,” said Botham.
The 60-year-old mentioned that despite a landmark victory over England, Bangladesh’s big test will come when they go aboard. He also feels that the Alastair Cook-led side will be judged more by what happens in the five-match Test series in India than the drawn series against Bangladesh.
“It’s good for them (Bangladesh). But what they’ve got to do is to start winning outside of their own country. That’s the acid test and that’s what England have got to do now,” he said.
“At the end of the day, they’ll be judged not so much on what happens in Bangladesh, but they will be judged more on what happens in India.”
The India tour is not going to be pretty viewing for England fans.
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With James Anderson ruled out of the start of the India vs England Test series, England will look to Stuart Broad to lead the attack. Broad, since making his Test debut in Colombo in 2007, has picked up 360 wickets in 99 Tests at an average of 28.48.
Botham feels that Broad and the rest of the English fast bowlers have it in them to remove the pitch out of the equation by getting the older ball to reverse.
“England have got the bowlers who can take the pitch out of the equation with reverse swing. If they go out there and they perform they can win.
“I presented him with his cap when he first played in Colombo. There was stuff about Stuart Broad ‘the enforcer’. He got a bit caught up in that, but he’s bowled his best spells when he bowls at the top of off stump, Australia at The Oval (2009), Australia at Trent Bridge (2015),” Botham added.
