India wrap up series win but Richard Gleeson shines on debut

GEORGE DOBELL AT EDGBASTON: The Lancashire bowler picked up 3 for 15 to help restrict India to 170 for 8 but his performance wasn't backed up by England's batters. Jos Buttler's side were all out for 121

Edgbaston: India 170-8, England 121 - India won by 49 runs

Scorecard

Richard Gleeson has taken the scenic route to success.

At the age at which other players might have been taking their first steps in the professional game, he was bar manager at Blackpool Cricket Club.

At the age at which others might have been pushing for international recognition, he had become a cricket development officer.

And at an age – 34 years and 219 days - at which others might have been thinking of retirement, that dream came true: he made his international debut.

He’s mowed lawns, pulled pints and worked in pet shops and factories. But what he’s never done, is give up on his dream of playing cricket for England. He made his first-class debut at 27, played his first full season as a pro aged 28 and, having been given his chance by Northants, moved to Lancashire as a 30-year-old. This day had been a long time coming.

When finally given a chance, it didn’t take him long to make an impression. Within eight deliveries, he had dismissed Rohit Sharma, with his fifth ball, Virat Kohli, with his seventh, and Rishabh Pant with his eighth. A combined total of 116 international centuries swept aside within four balls.

^{Bhuvneshwar Kumar collected three wickets for India [Stu Forster/Getty Images]}

England have actually had older T20I debutants in Darren Gough and Paul Nixon. And they have, in Jon Lewis who claimed 4 for 24 against Australian on his T20I, arguably seen better debuts from their seam bowlers.

But, only six months ago, as Gleeson struggled to recover from a stress fracture of the back, he feared his career was over. So to shine on this day, against an outstanding batting line-up and in front of a full-house crowd at Edgbaston, was reward for not only his skill, but his determination, too.

On this evidence, Gleeson isn’t a bowler with a huge amount of variations. He is not, for example, like Benny Howell: with a seemingly limitless array of cutters and spinners.

But what he does have – and, crucially, what Howell does not – is some extra pace. Here he exceeded 140 kph (87 mph) at times which allows him to hit an area just back of a length and test the batters’ rib cage.

Allied to good control and a slightly unusual action, which generally sees him angle the ball onto the batter but can see the odd one hold its line, it creates a compelling package. At domestic level, he has also demonstrated a well-controlled yorker. There’s a lot to like.

Maybe, in time, opposition players may work him out a little. Maybe, in time, he might require more variations. But England’s T20 World Cup campaign starts in just over three months. And on the quick surfaces anticipated in Australia, Gleeson – with his skills and his status as a relatively unknown player with little exposure to franchise cricket – could be a very useful addition.

England were certainly grateful for his intervention on Saturday at Edgbaston. India, with Pant batting beautifully, had raced to 49 without loss in the fifth over before Gleeson took his first.

^{Chris Jordan also impressed with the ball [Stu Forster/Getty Images]}

But the short-ball seemed to follow Rohit, whose top-edge ballooned into the air and was well taken by Jos Buttler running back. The wicket of Kohli, outrageously well caught by Dawid Malan sprinting from backward point to third man, was an example of the delivery that holds its line and found the batter’s outside edge, before Pant, charging down the pitch, was punished for attempting to hit him off his length with another edge to the keeper.

He conceded only one boundary in his four overs and his final figures – 3 for 15 – included a double-wicket maiden.

Those wickets provide a decent microcosm of what Gleeson can offer. And with Mark Wood, Chris Woakes and Jofra Archer all struggling with their fitness, he could be just the answer England are seeking for that T20 World Cup squad.

Glesson was one of two changes in the England side from the first match. David Willey also came into the side with Reece Topley and Tymal Mills missing out. But it was Chris Jordan, building on the foundations of Gleeson, who claimed the most impressive figures in a spell of 4 for 27.

None of it was enough to save England from a second successive defeat – and therefore a series loss – against an impressive India, though. While India’s total of 170 was perhaps as much as 20 or 30 under par on an excellent T20 surface, it was some way better than it might have been after they slipped to 89 for 5 in the 11th over.

Ravindra Jadeja, with his highest T20I score (46 not out) led the recovery with England missing Adil Rashid in the middle overs; England’s three spinners conceded 67 from their six wicketless overs. Buttler, it might be noted, missed a tough stumping chance offered by Jadeja on 12 off Liam Livingstone.

^{Ravindra Jadeja was the standout batter [Dan Mullan/Getty Images]}

It proved more than enough. With Jason Roy, who also dropped a relatively straightforward chance offered by Rohit in the first over of the match, edging the first ball of the reply (a lovely outswinger, it has to be said), Buttler well taken by Pant, standing up, and Livingstone beaten by a perfect off-cutter which clipped his off bail, England lost three wickets in the powerplay.

With every bowling option in the India line-up threatening, there was little chance of recovery. Moeen Ali briefly offered some resistance with an innings of 35 and David Willey added an unbeaten 33 but the wounds were too deep. Beaten by 50 runs on Thursday, they lost this one by 49 having been bowled out within their 20 overs on both occasions. In T20I terms, those are significant margins.

That’s not the end of the world. Few will remember who won this series in a couple of weeks, let alone by the time we reach the T20 World Cup. Suffice to say, nothing has happened which will have Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes worried about regaining their spots in this side and everything that has happened suggests this India side are going to take some beating at that World Cup.

In Gleeson, though, England may have found someone with whom they can do business. For him, at least, this was a special day.