England鈥檚 batters decided to attack Ravindra Jadeja in the 82nd over to quickly secure a win in the first Test, anticipating that India might bring in their key bowler Jasprit Bumrah in a last-minute attempt to claim wickets.
With Joe Root and keeper-batter Jamie Smith comfortably at the crease, and the winning target of 371 within reach, Smith sealed the victory by hitting Jadeja for two sixes and a boundary, leading the hosts to a memorable five-wicket triumph.
鈥淭he runs at that point (when Smith decided to go after Jadeja) were not too many, so I wasn鈥檛 expecting him (Bumrah) to come on and bowl (with the new ball), but you鈥檙e just never quite sure, especially in cricket,鈥 Smith told ESPNCricinfo.
England鈥檚 strategy was that if Shubman Gill had brought Bumrah into the attack when the hosts were 355/5 after the 81st over, and if the Indian pacer had managed to take a couple of quick wickets, it could have made things more challenging for Ben Stokes鈥 team.
鈥淵ou don鈥檛 know what will happen. I always back our tail but there could be a couple of decent balls and suddenly you鈥檙e eight-down and the pressure鈥檚 back on you again. It was nice to just get it done and move on.鈥
Smith explained, 鈥淚 knew there was a new ball coming and it looks as though I鈥檇 exposed Chris Woakes (at No. 8) but, at that point, if I鈥檇 hit another couple of sixes in that over, you鈥檙e taking all the momentum into the new ball.鈥
He added, 鈥淭he second new ball can bring wickets but it can increase the scoring rate as well. There鈥檚 always a little bit of calculated thinking behind it.鈥
Smith praised India, saying they 鈥渒ept trying all day鈥 on the final day, but England鈥檚 philosophy of keeping it simple in favourable batting conditions helped them cross the finish line.
Chasing 371, England secured the victory in the final hour with notable performances from Ben Duckett (149), Zak Crawley (65), Root (53 not out) and Smith (44 not out).
鈥淚t was simple in that you knew you had to chase the runs and we weren鈥檛 going to block out for the draw,鈥 Smith said.
鈥淲e were always going to be positive and try to get the runs. It was a rapid outfield and as good a batting conditions as you could have on day five.鈥
鈥淭he wicket wasn鈥檛 misbehaving too much as the Test went on, so you always felt as though you could keep it simple, you didn鈥檛 have to do anything too out of the box to get the runs, which is very helpful,鈥 he said.
Smith did not pay much attention to the talk about the inexperience in the Indian side.
鈥淲hen they鈥檙e trying to get 10 wickets and you鈥檙e chasing 370, it鈥檚 not every day that gets done. There could have been some head-downs at the end but they kept trying all day,鈥 he said.
鈥淚 see a lot of chat about maybe some inexperience on their part but I thought they were fantastic throughout the five days.鈥
Smith mentioned that the support from the team management to play aggressively had boosted his game.
鈥淚t鈥檚 great. Having that belief from other people is something that definitely took my game to the next level,鈥 he said.
鈥淲hen you鈥檙e out there batting, it is you and your partner at the other end, so it鈥檚 quite individual, but to have that backing and trust that other people are doing the same thing, you don鈥檛 feel you鈥檙e alone when you鈥檙e doing what you feel is right at that moment.鈥
鈥淲hen you are caught on the boundary trying to hit the ball for six, you feel you鈥檙e not going to get a slap on the wrist. (The attitude is) 鈥榤ate, that was a good option, the wind was howling that way鈥,鈥 he said.
(With PTI Inputs)