Michael Vaughan, the former England skipper has criticised Ben Stokes in his decision to bowl first on a sunny first day at the Headingley Test and termed it as incredible that allowed India to score 359 at 3. It looked a dubious decision as centuries each by opening batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal and captain Shubman Gill, both on debut as skipper, helped India to put England in a difficult spot in the first game of the series.

Michael Vaughan’s Statement

“I am an old-school traditionalist here at Leeds that when the sun is shining, with dry weather, you bat,” Vaughan told BBC Test Match Special. “I was staggered when he said he was going to bowl. Traditions are out the window. You have to pick your decisions on that moment, and not things that you did here years ago.”

“You always have to pick your decisions on that moment,” Vaughan reiterated. “And not things that you did here years ago or at other times. It can’t affect what the decision is today. You look at the England side and their strength is in the batting. And there is inexperience in the bowling at the moment. Ben clearly had a gut feeling, and sometimes it has worked.”

What Happened On The Day 1 Of The First Test

India captain Shubman Gill scored an century on day one play of the 1st Test against England at Leeds, as visitors crumbled to 359/3. Gill and deputy Rishabh Pant were not out and finished with 127 and 65 respectively. By the beginning of the first session, Ben Stokes dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal. At lunch India was 92/ 2, and the duo of Gill and Jaiswal had found the support of one another towards their fifty. Jaiswal and KL Rahul had come up with an opening partnership of 91 runs at Headingley in the first game. England tilted the game in their own favor to end the session well with two wickets off 5balls. India debutant Sai Sudharsan was being caught out after deploying four balls to a decent start.