ENG vs IND: "Why didn’t you declare earlier..."- Sunil Gavaskar attacks England's loud talk after Manchester test

Sunil Gavaskar feels England’s claim of chasing down 600 runs was a bit of loud talk.

Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar has attacked England for their big claims about chasing down 600 runs against India. He also questioned England’s decision to declare their innings too late during the fourth test in Manchester.

After India piled up 358/10 in the first innings, England replied with 669/10, earning a lead of 311 runs. They had four sessions to bowl out India in the second innings. However, they failed to dismiss them after Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar slammed centuries to drift the match towards a draw.

India scored 425/4 in the second innings before both teams officially called it a draw on day five. Ben Stokes picked a five-wicket haul and scored a century in the first innings. However, his marvellous efforts went in vain as India made a fabulous comeback to evade a defeat in the Manchester test.

Sunil Gavaskar attacks England’s loud talk

While speaking on Sony Sports, cricketer-turned-commentator Gavaskar targeted England’s loud talk of chasing down 600 runs against India. He noted how England players made claims that they can chase 600-plus targets; however, they lost by 336 runs in the second test while chasing a 608-run target.

“One question that comes up is whether England batted too long before declaring. When India gave England over 600 runs to chase at Birmingham, some of the England players said later in the press conference that they were actually scared. That’s why they ended up giving us more than 600 runs,” he said.

“But I remember reading earlier that while they were in India, England players had said, ‘Give us 600 plus runs, or anything really—we’ll chase it.’ But that was just bravado. In the end, they fell short by 336 runs. So, it was just a bit of loud talk,” he added.

Gavaskar also wants Indian skipper Shubman Gill to question England why they didn’t declare their innings earlier in the Manchester test.

“Now, if Shubman Gill were at the media conference, I’d like him to ask: Why did you take a lead of 311? Why weren’t you happy with a lead of around 240 or 250 after Stokes got his hundred?”, he said.

“Why didn’t you declare earlier and give your bowlers an extra hour or an hour and a half to try and take more wickets? I hope he asks that. Though I know he probably won’t – he’s too nice a guy,” he added.

Meanwhile, England and India are getting ready for fifth test of the series, scheduled to commence on July 31 at The Oval, London. England lead the series 2-1 and need to either win or draw the final encounter to win the series. India will aim for a victory in the next game to level the series 2-2.

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