Thaindian News

London, Aug.1 (ANI): Former Australian cricket captain and noted television commentator Richie Benaud has said that he would prefer a Test match where the battle between bat and ball is on an equal footing, as in the case of England versus Pakistan, as opposed to a match “where only 17 wickets are taken and almost 1,500 runs are made in 29 hours of a Test match”, as in the case of India versus Sri Lanka in Colombo this week.

Writing in a column for the News of The World, Benaud said England, led by skipper Andrew Strauss, “came through yesterday (Saturday) in brilliant fashion because they used their brains as well as playing with skill and courage when trouble loomed”, against Pakistan.

“They constantly carried the attack to the opposition and with a target of 435 have set them (Pakistan) one of the toughest fourth-innings challenges in Test history,” Benaud adds.

“It has been a match where batting collapses have lurked around every corner and there has been only one big partnership, the 219 between Eoin Morgan and Paul Collingwood,” said Benaud, adding that Strauss’s decision to declare after his side had scored over 200 in the second innings, paid a very handsome dividend as Pakistan lost three wickets for one run in seven balls.

He also said that it would foolish on the English selectors part to leave out Morgan for the forthcoming Ashes series.

“I notice some are still some not totally convinced about Morgan, despite his 130 in the first innings. I can assure you the Aussies will be chuckling if the England selectors leave him out of the Ashes,” he says. (ANI)