Former England Test cricketer and captain Ian Botham has said that the host side's bowlers have not learned their lessons from their first innings against India in their ongoing second Test at Lord's.
Botham said that he has been very disappointed with England's bowlers at Lord's and a poor performance with the ball on one of the most Test-friendly pitches in recent times has cost the hosts in the second Test.
The cricket legend said that one would think that England bowlers had their lesson from the first innings, when they gave India's batsmen far too much width, but added that they had obviously not done so, The Mirror reported.
The bowlers have had a golden opportunity to make all the running on one of the best Test pitches he has ever seen at Lord's as it has had something for everyone and The England bowlers spurned it on Thursday, said Botham.
The former skipper added that the second time around, to let India's lower middle order plunder 117 runs from 18 overs against the second new ball was not good enough. He said that England let India score 100 more runs in each innings than they should have been able to make.
Botham said that Ben Stokes might be the most inexperienced of England's four seam bowlers at this level, but overall the fast bowler has bowled the best lengths of the lot at Lord's.
Botham also said that Liam Plunkett performed well in the second innings, but he cannot understand why Jimmy Anderson bowled in the areas he did, adding that with England's backs to the wall, it may well be time for Alastair Cook to have a rest.
