England were finally put out of their misery on Saturday as an embarrassing Test series against India ended in the most fitting way possible: with a top-order batting collapse.
After succumbing to a rapid defeat within two days in the third Test, the fourth was decided within three as India claimed a 3-1 series victory by an innings and 25 runs.
Only Dan Lawrence could leave the field with his head held high for the toursits as India’s spinners Ravi Ashwin and Axar Patel ripped through England yet again, bowling them out for 135 in their second innings.
Lawrence was the only batsman to pass 50 as Ashwin and Patel took all ten wickets, reducing England to 30-4 at one point after another top order collapse.
While controversy over the Ahmedabad pitch offered England an excuse for their humiliation last week, Darren Gough insists there can be no hiding from this ‘horrendous’ display.
“When there’s been a little bit in the wicket, we’ve just not been good enough technically,” the former England bowler said on commentary for talkSPORT 2.
“We’ve not had the right mindset. We can talk about having a gameplan, but every game the top order is going.
“This is a good cricket pitch, it’s an absolute belter. It’s got a bit in it for the seamer, a little bit for the spinner, but if you stay at the crease and get in, you can go on and score like Washington Sundar did and like Rishabh Pant did.”
He added: “I just think we haven’t found a way to play against them [Ashwin and Patel], it’s been difficult with the conditions favouring them, but this is a good pitch with not much happening.
“We’ve just not got the skills to cope against the two really high quality spinners that India have got.
“It’s just horrendous, isn’t it? It’s just been a really horrendous game for England.”