Afternoon everyone and welcome to the second match in this T20 series. The question is: will it be the second mismatch? On Wednesday, at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, Brendon McCullum’s new England capitulated to SKY’s new India, losing with seven overs to spare.
A complete unknown outside India, Varun Chakravarthy, ripped through England’s middle order with his googlies. Another less than household name, Abhishek Sharma, then helped himself to 79 off 34 balls with eight sixes. McCullum’s big idea – picking a battery of pacemen – backfired as Gus Atkinson, Mark Wood and Jamie Overton bowled 35 balls and took none for 73. Jofra Archer and Jos Buttler were both excellent, but we knew that already. Harry Brook, the new vice-captain, said afterwards that it was the smog wot won it.
Today in Chennai the air should be clearer. Whether the England batters’ minds are, we shall see. Most England teams that go to India end up getting tormented by the spinners. It’s just that usually they win a match first. England have said that Brydon Carse will come in for the red-faced Atkinson but there’s a doubt about Jacob Bethell, who may give way to Jamie Smith. Play starts at 1.30pm GMT and I’ll be back just after 1 with the toss and teams.
