Roger Binny. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Roger Binny blamed Ben Stokes’ aggressive brand of captaincy for England’s series loss to Rohit Sharma and Co. The Three Lions are 1-3 down in the series and are in dire straits after India took a massive 255-run first-innings lead with two wickets to spare on Day 2 of the fifth and final Test in Dharamsala.
According to the former India all-rounder, Stokes and the other England batters have paid the price for trying to take the attack to the experienced Indian spinners in difficult conditions.
“Well, the captaincy of Ben Stokes so he has been more aggressive, and I think that has been the (reason for their) downfall in the few Test matches,” Binny, who is in Dharamsala to watch the proceedings, was quoted as saying by NDTV Sports.
“Being so aggressive and trying to take on the Indian spinners in difficult times (situations) rather than hanging around and trying to make a big score,” said Binny.
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Rohit Sharma has been very tactful: Roger Binny
Binny, who played 27 Tests and 72 ODIs between 1979 and 1987, heaped praise on Rohit for his tactics and how he devised England’s annihilation, in unison with his bowlers.
“Rohit Sharma again has been very tactful. You know he knew exactly what he wanted to do and he got his bowlers to do that,” the 68-year-old said.
England made a remarkable comeback in the first Test in Hyderabad and won the match even after conceding a first-innings lead of 190 runs. However, they suffered three consecutive defeats since then. Binny opined that the tourists did not change their modus operandi and persisted with aggressive cricket but Rohit was more patient after the Hyderabad Test and that paid dividends for India.
“I don’t think England changed their strategy. They went on the same attacking mode like what they did in the first Test match. But, I think, Rohit was more patient because he had the first Test in his pocket at one stage and then he let it go. He was patient enough in the next two Tests and won both,” Binny stated.