Former England captains Nasser Hussain and Michael Vaughan have strongly criticised England’s performance after their dramatic six-run defeat to India at The Oval, which allowed Shubman Gill’s side to level the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series 2-2.
In the Bazball era, England have earned a reputation as one of the most fearless chasing sides in Test cricket. They have successfully pulled off mammoth fourth-innings chases of over 370 twice in recent years, including one earlier in this series at Leeds. However, history was against them at The Oval, where no team had ever chased 374 in the final innings.
For much of the fourth day, it appeared England might rewrite the record books once again. Joe Root and Harry Brook combined for a spectacular 195-run partnership for the fourth wicket, guiding the hosts to 301 for three and seemingly on the brink of a series-clinching 3-1 victory. But the game unraveled in stunning fashion.
Either side of the Tea break, India struck with clinical precision, removing three wickets for just 26 runs. On the final morning, the visitors delivered the knockout blow, cleaning up the last four wickets in the first hour to bowl England out for 367—just seven runs short of the target.
Hussain: Would have been a travesty had England won 3-1
Nasser Hussain did not hold back in his assessment of the match and the series result.
“It would have been a travesty had England won the series 3-1. India deserve to make it 2-2 for the amount of good cricket they have played in this series. The final scoreline was well and truly deserved by India, and it was very fitting for Siraj to get the final wicket,” he said.
Hussain praised India’s resilience and noted that England’s collapse reflected the fine margins of high-risk cricket under their aggressive Bazball approach.
Vaughan: England ‘panicked’ under pressure
Michael Vaughan was more critical of England’s batting on the final day, suggesting that panic set in once the ball started moving under cloudy conditions.
“You have to say that England did panic. The ball was swinging around and they went for this high-risk attacking option. They just needed one partnership. They panicked in a way that they can with the way that they play. It’s not panic — it’s just the way that they play. They play with a huge amount of aggression,” Vaughan said.
He pointed out that a more patient approach could have seen England home, but the team instead stuck rigidly to their attacking philosophy and lost momentum when it mattered most.
Historic collapse
From a dominant position at 301 for three, England lost their last seven wickets for just 66 runs. The six-run defeat is their narrowest home Test loss in 123 years, eclipsed only by a three-run loss to Australia in Manchester in 1902.
The result ensured that India salvaged a 2-2 draw in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, a fitting reward for their consistent performances across the series. Mohammed Siraj, who claimed the final wicket, finished as the hero of The Oval Test, having already turned the game with his pivotal five-wicket haul in the first innings.
For England, the loss will spark questions about their adaptability under Bazball when chasing under pressure. For India, the victory at The Oval reaffirms their depth, composure, and ability to fight back against one of the most aggressive Test teams in world cricket.
