England went into day five of the second Test at Lord’s as slight favourites. They ended it with their tails between their legs and the sharp tongues of the English media lashing their abysmal efforts during a start-to-finish horror show.
After struggling and failing to get India’s tailenders out in the morning, including an unbroken 89-run stand for the ninth wicket, the visitors declared and set England the target of 272 runs in 60 overs to win the match.
England’s fragile batting line-up crumbled, with both openers dismissed for ducks, and ended 1ith 120 from 52 overs to see India claim a memorable third Lord’s victory.
Former England batsman and Telegraph columnist Sir Geoffrey Boycott was particularly scathing in his assessment of Joe Root’s “stupidity” as captain.
“This Test match has proved two things,” he wrote in the Telegraph. “Firstly, if you are stupid…
