Shubman Gill Criticizes ‘Bazball-Friendly’ England Pitches Despite Winning Second Test

Shubman Gill now has 2,478 runs in Test cricket from 34 matches, averaging 42.72, after scoring over 400 runs in the Edgbaston against England.

Shubman Gill Criticizes ‘Bazball-Friendly’ England Pitches Despite Winning Second Test

Indian captain Shubman Gill criticized the 'Bazball' pitches in England, despite Edgbaston win. (via My Khel)

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Following his first Test victory as captain against England at Edgbaston, Shubman Gill criticized England’s flat pitches and the Dukes ball. The newly appointed Indian red-ball captain suggested that these ‘Bazball-friendly’ conditions might be eroding the essence of Test cricket.

India stormed its way back into the five-match Test series against England, leveling it 1-1 after securing a record-breaking 336-run victory in Birmingham. India’s dominant display was guided by a Shubman Gill ‘masterclass’, as the 25-year-old scored 269 and 161 runs across both innings. Meanwhile, in bowling, Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj were outstanding, with the former finishing with figures of 10/187.

Shubman Gill particularly stole the show at Edgbaston with his mighty batting display, as he notched up an impressive aggregate of 430 runs, the highest by an Indian in a single Test match. The young Indian captain’s heroics, along with his teammates’ determination, enabled India to achieve the unprecedented feat of winning a Test match at Edgbaston for the first time in almost six decades.

However, the match raised some serious questions about a English pitches having become flat in the recent days, offering little assistance to bowlers. It is a consequence of England head coach Brendon McCullum’s decision to shift the team’s style of playing red-ball cricket. This led to the inception of ‘Baz-ball’, charecterized by England’s ability to hit aggressively, score runs at a fast pace and chase down massive totals.

However, the Indian bowlers, even without Jasprit Bumrah, managed to challenge these ‘Bazball-friendly’ conditions in Edgbaston by taking all 20 wickets. While the chatter surrounding the surfaces in England seems to be an unending one, Indian captain Shubman Gill, following the team’s decisive victory, chipped in with his thoughts. The 25-year-old openly criticized both the pitches and the Dukes ball, asserting they are diminishing the traditional essence of Test cricket in England.

Even more than the [pitch], the ball is going soft and out of shape very quickly. I don’t know what it is, weather, or whatever, but it gets very difficult for the bowlers to get wickets in these conditions. – Shubman Gill on the Edgbaston surface (H/T ESPN Cricinfo)

Shubman Gill highlighted the challenges faced by bowlers at Edgbaston, particularly the lack of seam or swing movement. He added that it was tough for them to get quick wickets even with the famous Dukes’ ball, due to its early loss of shape and hardness. Gill therefore suggested that with runs being easily scored on English pitches, bowlers also need some form of assistance to keep the game engaging. This, he believes, would also encourage teams to play more aggressively rather than defensively.

I think there should be a little help at least. If the ball is doing something, you enjoy playing, or esle the game loses its essence.

Not just Shubman Gill, but Australian skipper Pat Cummins, currently leading his side against the West Indies, also took a dig at the Edgbaston track. He sarcastically questioned who would want to be a bowler in England given the flat tracks, adding that Test cricket in other countries is vastly different.

Indian Captain Shubman Gill Might Face Trouble for Wearing Nike Vest in Edgbaston Test

While Shubman Gill dominated headlines with his impressive display with the bat as well as his captaincy in India’s win over England in the second Test, he, however, might have landed himself in troubled waters. The issue stems from what he wore in the dressing room during the match.

Shubman Gill Nike vest
Shubman Gill might face trouble after he was spotted in a Nike vest during the Edgbaston Test (via NDTV Sports)

The 25-year-old, on Day 4, emerged from the dressing room wearing a black Nike vest, to signal the declaration to teammates on the pitch. This could, however, lead to legal issues for Gill because the BCCI has an exclusive sponsorship agreement with Adidas, Nike’s direct competitor. It designates the German brand as the official cricket kit manufacturer for Indian Men’s and Women’s teams, across all age groups.

Thereafter, Shubman Gill’s action might be deemed as a significant breach in Adidas’ contract with the BCCI, with the Indian captain being penalised for it. Furthermore, the Nike logo, clearly visible on Gill’s chest, did spark a wave of hilarious social media reactions amongst fans in India.