McCullum: India Deserved Win in Oval Test
England head coach Brendon McCullum believes the 2-2 result in the India vs England 2025 Test series has revealed critical areas for improvement ahead of the upcoming Ashes. India clinched a dramatic six-run victory in the fifth and final Test at The Oval, levelling the series and dashing England’s hopes of a series win.
India’s Comeback Win Earns McCullum’s Praise
The final Test concluded in just under an hour on day five, marking India’s narrowest win by runs in Test history. McCullum acknowledged that India “deserved” the win for their spirited fightback. England, despite holding a lead earlier in the series, were unable to close it out. This continues their search for a series victory against India under the Stokes-McCullum leadership.
Ashes Preparation Starts With Reflection
Although the team’s next assignment is in white-ball cricket, McCullum confirmed that the Ashes remains a key priority. He plans to thoroughly review the India vs England 2025 Test series to identify what worked and what didn’t. Fine-tuning England’s Test setup will begin once the dust settles.
“We’ll digest this,” McCullum said. “We know where we must get better. The effort was there, but several moments slipped through our hands—literally and figuratively.”
Missed Chances and Dropped Catches Hurt England
Fielding errors played a pivotal role in England’s downfall at The Oval. Six catches were dropped in India’s second innings, costing the team over 150 runs. McCullum admitted that this lapse in standards came at the worst time, but emphasized that England remains a strong fielding unit overall.
India’s Resilience Stands Out
India’s performance late in the series, especially by Mohammed Siraj, drew admiration from McCullum. Siraj’s pace and stamina in the final innings were described as “incredible” after bowling consistently above 90mph in his 30th over. The head coach admitted India played the better cricket when it mattered most.
