Former Test captains Nasser Hussain and Ricky Ponting were critical of India's decision to open the bowling at Old Trafford with debutant Anshul Kamboj instead of Mohammed Siraj.
After being put in to bat, India ended day one (July 23) of the Test at 264-4, with wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant also retiring hurt. Pant braved a fractured foot to resume his innings on the second morning, eventually scoring 54 to help India to 358.
England began their inning shortly before tea, and in the 14 overs they batted in the afternoon session, scored 77-0 as Ben Duckett made his way to 43, and Zak Crawley to 33. During the session break, Ricky Ponting and Nasser Hussain both criticised India's decision to open the bowling with debutant Anshul Kamboj alongside Jasprit Bumrah, rather than the more senior Mohammed Siraj.
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Ponting: They just missed their areas
“I think we heard it just before the break when we were coming out, [I think] Ravi Shastri said it was rubbish,” said former Australia captain Ricky Ponting, on Sky Sports.
“They just missed their areas. I'm not quite sure what they're expecting out of this surface, but I was surprised that they actually went with Kamboj ahead of Siraj with the new ball to start with. Knowing what impact Siraj has had on this series so far, knowing how important the start of England's batting innings is. You know they're going to come out and play their shots.”
Hussain: They've just handed runs back to England
Ex-England captain Nasser Hussain agreed with Ponting: “[There were] slightly changing conditions, but they bowled really poorly. Change in overhead conditions doesn't make you bowl both sides of the wicket. As Ricky said, too many balls on the pads, not enough in that channel, captain's decisions I didn't quite agree with to be honest. Kamboj wasn't even in the squad a week ago, he wasn't in the team.
“To bring him into the squad, bring him into the team and give him the new ball ahead of Siraj seems odd. I would've gone Siraj for a short burst at that end, and then switch him to this end to follow Bumrah, because we've all been talking about that green channel and that strip across. This is the end the seamers probably want to bowl.
“Everything that could possibly go wrong in 14 overs has done, and those runs, you know, Rishabh Pant has gone out there on one leg and gotten valuable runs today in a partnership with others, they've just handed those runs back to England.”
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