“Maybe in the past we would …”

Even before the first IND vs ENG first Test started, there was a lot of talk, if the hosts would continue to play Bazball. Some experts ruled it out, also wanting England to be measured in their approach. And that is exactly what the team did. In both the innings, they went on scoring runs at over 4.5 runs/over. The highlight was, despite losing a few wickets, they were never in a situation, where they could be bogged down with a collapse.

IND vs ENG, 1st Test in Leeds

In the 371-run chase, wicket-keeper Jamie Smith too played his part, and took his team safely home, when they needed 80-odd runs. Reflecting on the same, Smith said, this was an example, as to how England plays.

“I think this was a great example of where the team have got to that we didn’t give India a chance. Maybe in the past we would have still played that same way but it might have been a collapse that gave them a chance or maybe gave them a little in. It was so measured and controlled that we never gave them a sniff. I think the really important thing is for the team to be quite ruthless and once you’re on top, try to put them to bed,” Smith said, as quoted by Independent UK.

England Batters, Jamie Smith Take Team Home

His own performance was excellent, and he credited his teammates for having the belief in him. “Something that definitely took my game to the next level was having that belief from other people. If you get caught on the boundary trying to hit the ball for six, you feel you’re not going to get a slap on the wrist.

“The wind was howling that way, it was an option I thought I could easily obtain. If it was a different scenario of an 80-metre boundary with the wind blowing the opposite way, it would have been a conversation of ‘was that the best option?’. It’s not like we have free rein to do whatever, there is some calculated thinking behind it as well.”