ENG vs IND| Graeme Swann criticises Ravindra Jadeja's strategy to bowl from over the stumps

The former England spinner Graeme Swann has admitted to being disappointed with the way India used Ravindra Jadeja on the fourth day of the Edgbaston Test. Swann also questioned Jadeja's approach of bowling from over the stumps to right-handed batters, stating that it was a defensive approach and not something that a lead spin bowler would do in the fourth innings of a Test match.

Addressing the broadcasters Sony sports, Swann opined that Jadeja should have bowled from round the stumps with a more aggressive approach, which might have changed India's fortunes in the test match. 

Swann further argued that Jadeja's decision to continue from over the wicket allowed Jonny Bairstow to score many runs behind the wicket.   

"Where I think India missed a trick is Jadeja bowling over the wicket. Ravindra is such a good bowler, he doesn't need to bowl over the wicket. 100 for 3, chasing 370. There are certain moments in an innings where you have to be ruthless, and identify your time to have a go at the opposition," Swann said. "Most of the runs that were scored against him were behind the wicket, that tells me that they didn't bowl straight enough to him. Jonny Bairstow picked them to the leg-side easily," he added. 

Continuing, Swann revealed that he never liked bowling outside the batters' leg stump and even refused to do so on certain occasions. At last, the former England tweaker advised Jadeja to bowl on attacking lines from round the stumps on the final day.  

"As a spin bowler, you never convince me that the best way to bowl is outside the batsman's leg-stump. I hated it when I was asked to do it. I would much rather see India go around the wicket. I know the pitch is not doing much, but he is world-class; he has got 200 Test wickets. That's how you win a game for India. You force the batters to play big shots," he concluded.

To note, India were bundled out for 245 on the fourth day, setting a challenging target of 378 runs for the home team. 

However, the English batters hammered their way through to 259 runs off the 57 overs they batted till stumps on day four. As it stands, England are the firm favourites to win the match, needing 119 more runs with seven wickets in hand on the final day.