Southampton: The victory against World No.1 India in the ongoing five-Test series is on par with beating Australia in the Ashes, said England coach Trevor Bayliss, who suggested they might experiment in the final match starting at London Friday.
“It is right up there with beating Australia in the Ashes. Obviously India are a very good team, the number one team, and to knock them off is a very good feeling,” said Bayliss after England sealed the series with a 60-run win in the fourth Test.
With opener Alastair Cook announcing his retirement after this series, and skipper Joe Root eager to bat at number four, England will have to figure out their top-order in the final Test as well as in the upcoming series against Sri Lanka and West Indies.
Moeen Ali was promoted to the No.3 spot in the second innings of the fourth Test, paving the way for Root to bat at four and Bayliss said the off-spinner might be an option in that position in the right condition.
“I’m sure there will be discussions on a few things in the next couple of days. Batsmen would like to have a settled position in the order. You always find in any era or team, there are one or two guys who have to be a bit flexible,” he said.
Bayliss, however, wasn’t sure if Ali would be a permanent move and hinted it was possible for Root to revert to the role.
“Joe has always said he wants to bat at four. He understood where I was coming from that if we had a number three averaging 50 to allow him to bat at four, that would be handy. But I thought it was for the best of the team he batted at three,” he said.
The coach also said they will take a call on whether to field both James Anderson and Stuart Broad in the upcoming series. “We will get together after this Test and see who is fit and available. We will definitely want to win the last Test, and I see a future with them (Anderson-Broad) at the moment,” Bayliss said.
