Known to speak his mind, former England skipper Geoffrey Boycott has tore into India’s batting line-up following their innings defeat in the second Test at Lord’s.
Virat Kohli and his men were bowled out for just 107 and 130 as they tasted a mammoth defeat by an innings and 159 runs to fall 0-2 behind in the five-match series against England.
Writing in his column for the Telegraph, Boycott accused the Indian batsmen of not doing their homework ahead of the series.
“Trying to work straight outswingers through midwicket and then being surprised when you get bowled or nick it to the slips is brainless. Playing the ball on the up in front of your pad is a no-no,” he wrote.
“These are elementary things you do not do against any decent swing bowler in English conditions. To try to do it to James Anderson, who is one of the great master craftsmen in those conditions, tells me the Indian batsmen have not done their homework.
“They have not sat down, talked or practised in the nets and got their heads around how they are going to bat differently in England.”
India’s batting has come under fire from all quarters.
Boycott suggested that India’s batsmen were flat-track bullies who could not cope with the swinging ball in overseas conditions.
“These guys are used to batting on flat, dry, non-bouncing pitches in India and plundering easy runs. The new ball does not do much and the shine does not last long. Batsmen are king and can play lots of shots straight away,” he stated.
“India have come to England complacently and arrogantly thinking they can bat the same way and everything will be OK on the day. Any time you do not plan and work at your cricket, the game will kick you up the backside, and India deserve the thrashing they are getting,” he added.
It remains to be seen now if India’s batsmen can put up a better showing in the third Test at Trent Bridge which gets underway on August 18.