England v India - The English heroes

It was supposed to be the most competitive Test series of this year, but in the end it turned out to be an absolute nightmare for the current world champions and number one Test team in the world, India. The Indians were completely outclassed by England, and surely it’s none but England who deserves to be the number one Test team in the world.

Such an emphatic display was possible for England because of those players whose individual charisma outplayed India.

Stuart Broad

Stuart Broad is the ultimate English hero at present. Just before the start of this series, against Sri Lanka, he fared poorly, but the criterion of a champion is to hit back strongly when the chips are down and that’s what Broad did.

Captain Andrew Strauss had kept faith in him and wanted him to deliver the best with the ball. His stupendous bowling display had left the best batting line-up in the world in complete disarray.

He swung it will and that too with extravagant pace and this had been a joy to watch. Not only with the ball, but when the situation demanded, Broad contributed with the bat as well.

James Anderson

James Anderson had taken swing bowling it to a new level throughout the series. Like Broad, Anderson was highly deceptive. At times Anderson resembled like John Snow. It seemed that there were firecrackers in his delivery stride. Anderson and Broad were both devastating.

Kevin Pietersen

Kevin Pietersen’s bat had been quiet but a champion loves the biggest contest and at the right moment KP gave the sucker-punch with his bat. He innovative batting display had put a scar in the Indian bowlers’ mind while his strokes all round the park, majority of them coming from the middle of the bat, had dented the Indian bowlers’ confidence.

Jonathan Trott

On the other hand, Jonathan Trott’s Kallis like batting had been water shed in the English fairy tale. He would tap, tap and tap and then would go for the runs. He would poke, prod, nudge and collect runs from nowhere and this was what made the Indians impatient and frustrated.

Eoin Morgan

The modern day wonder Eoin Morgan is the crouching tiger. He would crouch and wait for the prey and then going to kill the line and length of the bowlers with astonishing innovations which put nails on the purists’ heads. Though not had been instrumental, but certainly had given some killer punches to the Indian psyche.

Tim Bresnan

Tim Bresnan was not in the scene, but when he entered, he just took the world by storm. At first his bowling, which was accurate and consisted swing, bamboozled the best batting line-up and then it was his willow which just sliced the Indian bowlers again to take their confidence at zero level. And like Broad, Bresnan had been instrumental in picking up the wickets at the right time.

Ian Bell

Ian Bell is having the form of a lifetime. His bat, these days, can never be found dull. But it is busy in essaying productive knocks for England and throughout the series he had been the most consistent run scorer for England. 

Matt Prior

Matt Prior seems to me the unsung hero, but have a look at his contribution with the bat in crunch situations! At Lord’s suddenly Isant’s tail was wagging, but Prior’s bat and Broad’s determination just mauled the Indians. Prior is the sting in the English tail. So had been Stuart Broad. Whenever the top order wobbled these two would bring out the best for England. Again, in terms of taking crucial catches, Prior had been out and out a class act.

Graeme Swann and Alastair Cook

Graeme Swann and Alastair Cook took long to blossom, but when they did come out of the shell, things were sweeter for England.  At Trent Bridge Cook’s knock was a mountain without any peaks, but it was the knock to dent the Indian bowling who in the second morning looked sharp. Not all innings need flair, but they need patience also to dent the opposition.

Swann came back at the Oval. His main focus had been line and length but he shun that and focused to turn it more and he had been rewarded as he snaked through the Indian defence and conveyed them a message that he is not Warne but he is Swann, Graeme Swann.

Andrew Strauss

But none can be a greater hero than the skipper Andrew Strauss, whose captaincy had been lively, spontaneous, attacking and full of imaginative and intelligent ideas. Strauss’ bat didn’t talk, but with his captaincy he always had the upper hand over his opponent.  

England are looking all set to dominate this decade. But they still have to prove many things, especially in the subcontinent. But at present, it’s time to rejoice the moment of glory.

All hail the English heroes!

Thank You

Faisal Caesar