“I could not believe how poorly he bowled”: Mark Butcher Criticizes Jadeja’s Ineffective Use of Rough in Leeds Test, Questions India’s Team Selection

Former England cricketer Mark Butcher has voiced sharp criticism of Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja’s bowling tactics during the first Test against England at Headingley, Leeds. In a scathing assessment on the Wisden Cricket Weekly Podcast, Butcher likened Jadeja’s ineffective use of the rough to “owning a hammer but punching nails in with your fist,” citing his failure to exploit advantageous pitch conditions.

Jadeja returned figures of 1 for 104 in 24 overs in England’s second innings, picking up the wicket of Ben Stokes but otherwise appearing toothless against aggressive batting, particularly from left-hander Ben Duckett. England’s batters, especially Duckett, repeatedly employed the reverse sweep to counter Jadeja, rendering him largely ineffective.

“I could not believe how poorly he bowled. Not landing the ball in the rough at all until it was basically too late. That was extraordinary,” said Butcher. He further questioned how Jadeja and wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant—both experienced players—failed to adjust their strategy to make better use of the rough patches that could have troubled England’s left-handed batters.

Butcher didn’t stop there. He also criticised India’s team selection, specifically the inclusion of bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur over a specialist spinner like Kuldeep Yadav. Thakur endured a forgettable match, scoring single-digit runs with the bat and taking just two wickets across both innings while leaking runs at a high economy.

Commenting on Thakur’s performance, Butcher stated, “If you are not contributing with the bat down there at No. 8, you damn well be taking wickets and be in the game more as a bowler than he was.” He added that opting for Kuldeep might have changed the complexion of the match, especially on the final day when India needed breakthroughs to defend a sizable total.

India had set a target of 371 for England after strong centuries from KL Rahul (137) and Rishabh Pant (118) in the second innings lifted them to 364. Despite holding a 370-run lead, India’s lower-order collapse limited the margin. England’s Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue each claimed three wickets to contain the total.

The match had earlier seen India post 471 in the first innings, with Shubman Gill (147), Pant (134), and Yashasvi Jaiswal (101) leading the charge. England responded with 465, led by Ollie Pope’s 106 and crucial contributions from Harry Brook (99) and Duckett (62). Jasprit Bumrah’s five-wicket haul was the standout bowling effort for India.

England’s fourth-innings chase was spearheaded by a commanding 188-run opening stand between Zak Crawley (65) and Duckett (149), followed by a steady partnership between Joe Root (53*) and Jamie Smith (44*) to seal a five-wicket victory. Duckett was named Player of the Match for his match-winning century.

With England now leading the five-Test series 1-0, India faces mounting pressure not only to respond on the field but also to rethink their team composition and tactical approach heading into the second Test at Edgbaston.