England bowling coach Tim Southee has defended captain Ben Stokes’s decision to bowl first after India piled on a commanding 359 for 3 on the opening day of the first Test at Headingley. Centuries from Yashasvi Jaiswal and new captain Shubman Gill put India in complete control on a surface that offered little assistance once the early morning moisture dried out.
The decision to field raised eyebrows, especially given the nature of the pitch and India’s response with the bat. However, Southee, who is part of England’s coaching staff as a consultant for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, insisted the call was made based on Thursday’s pitch reading.
ENG vs IND 1st Test Day 1 Highlights
“I think with the colour of the wicket yesterday and a little bit of, I guess, moisture left in it. There was gonna be a little bit of probably this morning, so, yeah, I think that’s the thinking behind the decision,” Southee explained. “I think the Indian openers sort of negotiated that first hour relatively well. KL Rahul left well and, and Jaiswal played his hand as well throughout. So I think there was a little bit of assistance there, but for the rest of that it was a pretty good surface I guess is encouraging for our guys when we get an opportunity to bat as well.”
Jaiswal (101) and Gill (127 not out) showcased composure and class as they stitched together a 129-run stand for the third wicket, lifting India from a shaky 92 for 2 after KL Rahul (42) and debutant B Sai Sudharsan (0) had fallen in quick succession. Rishabh Pant (65 not out) added further impetus in the final session, helping India finish with a flourish, scoring at 4.22 runs per over, to reach 359 for 3 at the close of play on Day 1.
Jaiswal was playing his first Test in England, Gill his fourth, and Sai Sudharsan was on debut – a fact that may have played into England’s thinking at the toss. The last six Tests at Headingley had all seen the team bowling first emerge victorious, but critics suggested England were too focused on past results rather than current conditions.
“Don’t think you think too much. You look at the surface and you make a decision on what you think is gonna give you the best chance. Not all the time you get it right,” Southee admitted. “But I think, you look at the weather around and I guess there’s a little bit of moisture left in that wicket this morning. I think the first hour or so there’s gonna be potentially a little bit, but historically with this weather around it’s gonna be turned into a pretty, pretty good surface at some stage.”
While England’s bowlers toiled for long spells, India’s performance marked a significant shift in their batting era, with Jaiswal and Gill making a strong statement in the absence of senior figures like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Their innings not only laid a strong platform for India but also set the tone for the newly established five-Test Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.
The challenge for England now is to respond with the bat – and hope the surface, as Southee suggested, remains good enough for them to claw their way back into the contest.