England Collapse Under Pressure: Cook Criticizes Team’s Batting Display

Former England skipper Alastair Cook criticized England’s batting performance on Day 3 of the ongoing Test match against India in Rajkot, where England were bowled out for 319 runs in their first innings.

The day began with England at 207/2, trailing India by 248 runs, led by a blistering century from opener Ben Duckett, who set a new English record for the fastest Test century in India.

However, England’s innings took a severe downturn as they lost eight wickets for just 112 runs on the third day, leaving them trailing India by 126 runs despite Duckett’s exceptional 153 off 151 balls.

Cook, while speaking to Sky Sports, expressed his disappointment at England’s batting collapse, emphasizing that such performances do not bode well for winning matches.

Reflecting on the match, Cook acknowledged that India, who had displayed a lackluster performance on Day 2, showcased strong bowling on Day 3 at the Niranjan Shah Stadium, claiming vital wickets.

Mohammed Siraj emerged as the standout bowler for India, claiming four wickets while conceding 84 runs in 21.1 overs, playing a key role in England’s collapse.