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With three gripping contests already played, the ongoing five-match Test series between England and India has taken a dramatic turn. England, led by Ben Stokes, currently hold a 2-1 advantage after claiming victories in the first and third Tests. India, under the leadership of Shubman Gill, managed to bounce back in the second Test but faltered again at Lord’s. The fourth Test, set to begin on July 23 at Old Trafford in Manchester, now becomes a must-win for India to stay alive in the series and take it into a decider at The Oval.
The series has not only produced high-quality cricket but also several heated moments between the two sides, especially during the Lord’s Test. England’s aggressive intent, spurred by incidents on and off the field, appears to have been a deliberate shift in strategy — one that was hinted at by their head coach.
Harry Brook reveals why they dropped the ‘nice guys’ approach
In a recent interaction with BBC Sport, England’s middle-order batter Harry Brook revealed that head coach Brendon McCullum had privately expressed concerns over the team’s overly accommodating approach during the second Test at Lord’s.
“He actually said a few days before that we are too nice sometimes,” Brook said, recalling McCullum’s remark.
Brook shared that he brought up McCullum’s comment the night before the final day of the Lord’s Test. Using McCullum’s comment as a rallying cry for England to adopt a more combative attitude, Brook said: “I think tomorrow is a perfect opportunity to really get stuck into them.”
The remarks came in light of a tense standoff during Day 3 when Indian skipper Gill sledged Zak Crawley, accusing him and Ben Duckett of deliberate time-wasting.
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Brook explains shift in England’s attitude
Expanding on England’s change in mindset, Brook said the team collectively decided to take a tougher stand after observing how Indian players reacted on the field.
“The opportunity that arose for us to not be the nice guys was because of what they did the night before,” he added, referring to India’s aggressive body language and vocal send-offs, particularly Mohammed Siraj’s animated celebration after dismissing Duckett.
Brook explained the deliberate shift in England’s approach, possibly aiming to rattle India mentally in the remainder of the series.
“We watched two of our guys out there on their own, going back at the Indians after they were going at them. We just thought ‘we’re not standing for that.’ We had a conversation and said ‘it’s time to not be those nice guys that we have been before’,” explained Brook.
All eyes on India as Shubman Gill-led side look to bounce back in must-win Test
As the series moves to Manchester, the pressure is firmly on India. Gill and his team know that anything less than a win will see England take an unassailable 3-1 lead. While India have shown moments of brilliance, consistency has eluded them. The batting unit, in particular, will be under scrutiny after a series of middle-order collapses.
The fourth Test is expected to be an emotionally charged contest, with tensions from Lord’s likely to carry over. India’s ability to handle the psychological pressure and respond with both bat and ball will be critical. With a place in the series on the line, fans can expect a fierce contest at Old Trafford as both sides look to assert dominance.
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