India moral victors of England series, says Greg Chappell
India won clarity, identity and purpose, Greg Chappell observed, after they pulled off a thrilling six-run victory in the fifth Test at the Oval to share the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.
New Delhi: Greg Chappell believes India gained more than England from their 2-2 drawn series, which would become memorable in the future for the "theatre" it created on and off the pitch.
India pulled off a thrilling six-run victory in the fifth Test at the Oval to share the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy on Shubman Gill's debut series as the Test skipper.
Throughout the evenly-fought series there were verbal altercations with all the matches going to the final day. Players like Rishabh Pant and Chris Woakes played through pain despite suffering serious injuries.
"The subplots. The redefinition of roles. Both sides were tested -- physically, tactically, emotionally. But it was India who emerged as moral victors. They won clarity. Identity. Purpose," Chappell wrote in his column for ESPNCricinfo.
'Approach key for England now'
Chappell also said England's ultra-aggressive Bazball batting approach ultimately led to their inability to win the fifth match that cost them a series win.
Chasing 374, Joe Root and Harry Brook's centuries lifted England to 301/3 but the 26-year-old's dismissal triggered a collapse as they fell tantalisingly short.
"England's own journey in this series presents a cautionary subplot - one embodied by the brilliant but mercurial Harry Brook, whose virtues I have extolled publicly before," Chappell said.
"He has time, range, confidence, and that rare gift of making batting look effortless. But cricket, particularly Test cricket, is not just about shot-making. It's about judgement. About recognising when the moment demands attack - and when it demands restraint."
The former India head coach felt that England needed to handle their chase in more matured way and Brook needs to learn quickly to be worthy successor to Root, who is the second highest run scorer in Tests behind Sachin Tendulkar.
"Brook's dismissal at The Oval, with the game finely poised, was symptomatic of the conundrum that is facing the England setup. The "Bazball" philosophy - of fearless, attacking cricket - has revitalised their Test side. But it cannot become an excuse to avoid doing the hard yards, he said.
"...all England needed was for one batter to hold his nerve. To absorb pressure. Brook went for the glory shot - and perished. There's nothing wrong with positivity. But positive cricket doesn't mean reckless cricket. It means confident, calculated risk-taking.
"Brook is emerging, and he will learn. But to become the match-winner England need, he must embrace the grind along with the glamour. Root didn't become England's most prolific batter by always playing pretty strokes
"He earned it with grit. Brook will need to do the same if he is to fulfil his vast potential," the former Australia skipper said.