Former cricketer Mohammed Kaif has said that the decline in the batting standards of the Big 3, i.e of India, England and Australia in Tests, is alarming, with the three teams massively faltering in the space of a week: India against South Africa and the latter two in the Ashes on Friday.
It mirrored the pattern of the recent India–South Africa opener, which wrapped up inside three days as well. The Eden Gardens track came under fire from fans and former cricketers after that game, though head coach Gautam Gambhir defended the pitch.
Gambhir said that the conditions were intentional and that a more defensive approach would have made scoring achievable.
“Where have all the Test match batsmen gone? India failed to chase 124 on a spin track while
English and Australian batters struggled on a pacy Perth wicket on the opening day of the Ashes,” Kaif tweeted on Friday afternoon.
Where have all the Test match batsmen gone? India fail to chase 124 on spin track while English and Australian batters struggle on pacy Perth wicket on opening day of Ashes.
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) November 21, 2025
India’s Kolkata Test mirrored the chaos, with the hosts collapsing for just 93 while chasing a modest 124. Star allrounder Washington Sundar top-scored with a gritty 31 off 92 deliveries, but the rest of the lineup faltered.
Star batter Yashasvi Jaiswal and Mohammed Siraj fell for ducks, while KL Rahul (1), Rishabh Pant (2) and Kuldeep Yadav (1) managed only single-digit scores.
Nineteen wickets tumbled on a chaotic opening day of the first Ashes Test on Friday, as England skipper Ben Stokes’ fiery pace attack bowled his team into a position of strength after Australia rolled the visitors for just 172.
A rampaging Mitchell Starc took 7/58 to put England on the back foot after Stokes won the toss on a fine day at a packed Perth Stadium and chose to bat.
