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"Hell Lot Of Runs" England Coach Changes Tune, Hints At Draw In Edgbaston Test

Akshita Patel

England to play for draw in Edgbaston Test vs India [Source: @englandcricket, @SkyCricket/X.com]England to play for draw in Edgbaston Test vs India [Source: @englandcricket, @SkyCricket/X.com]

Just a day after England’s vice-captain Harry Brook confidently said they would chase down any target India set, the team has made a big U-turn. Assistant coach Marcus Trescothick has suggested that a draw could be an ideal result at Edgbaston, as 608 is a nearly impossible target to chase.

India dominated Day 4 of the second Test at Edgbaston, with Shubman Gill smashing another hundred and the bowlers striking early in England’s second innings. By stumps, the hosts were struggling at 72/3, still needing 536 runs with their top three batters, including Joe Root, already dismissed.

Marcus Trescothick Sees Draw As A Win For England In Edgbaston

Now, England’s assistant coach Marcus Trescothick, talking to ESPN Cricinfo, has admitted that a draw would be a good result. He said chasing down over 500 runs in a day is almost impossible, and England will adjust their plans accordingly.

“We all probably appreciate that it’s a hell of a lot of runs to try and score. It’s 550 [536] tomorrow and I don’t think we’ve seen scoring rates quite that quick in a day, so of course it will be challenging. But we’ve probably about another 10 to 15 overs of the balls at the hardest point before it gets a little bit soft, and then we’ll see how we’re going from that point, really," Trescothick said.

This is a sharp contrast to England’s usual aggressive style under Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum, known as “Bazball.” Since Stokes became captain, England has only drawn one Test, which was affected by rain.

“Whenever the situation is changing, of course it is. When you get to the point that you can [only] draw the game, of course. We’re not stupid enough to [think] that you have to just win or lose. There are three results possible in every game that you play. But we have done some things in our time that are different to what we’ve done before," he added.

Trescothick Slams Media For Misinterpreting Brook’s Statement

After Day 3, England’s Harry Brook was confident of chasing any total set by the Indian team. However, he didn’t expect India to declare at a 607-run lead. While Brook is now being trolled, assistant coach Marcus Trescothick said that the media often misunderstands what goes on inside the dressing room.

“You guys have a perception of what you think goes on in the changing room, and we obviously understand it a little bit more [than] the perception of what we’re trying to do. We’re trying to give the players the best opportunity to win games every time that we go out to play, and then if we can’t do that, then we try and adapt accordingly, and plan ahead to what we’re going to try and do," Trescothick concluded.

With one day left and India clearly in control, England will now look to survive and hope to force a draw.