Did England’s first innings declaration cost them the Test?

It was a Test match for the ages at Edgbaston this week and one that rivalled the iconic Ashes encounter on the very same ground 18 years ago in 2005.

Australia were on the right side of a dramatic chase this time as they edged home by two wickets thanks to a superb innings from their skipper Pat Cummins and admirable support from Nathan Lyon.

Their ability to chase 281 was extremely impressive, but after defeat it is only natural there was much conjecture over Ben Stokes‘s decision to declare on day one when England were 393-8 and had Joe Root well set on 118.

Stokes defended it following the game, insisting he saw ‘an opportunity to pounce’ on Australia’ and it promises to be one of the major talking points from this Test match.

In light of that, Mail Sport’s experts discuss whether or not the declaration cost England the game. 

After England lost the first Test, questions have been raised over whether Ben Stokes’s decision to declare on the first evening cost his side the match

England were 393-8 and Joe Root was well set on 118 when Stokes decided to call in his side

LAWRENCE BOOTH – NO

It did not. They had Australia 227 for eight on the last day chasing 281 — and you win those games nine times out of 10, at least. They lost it because they missed crucial chances throughout Australia’s first innings, and because Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon held their nerve.

DAVID LLOYD – YES 

Three things cost England – the pitch negating their bowlers, the injury to Moeen and the declaration which potentially cost them at least 40 runs. The ages of the people coming out of the ground told you what they thought. The elders didn’t get it. The young ’uns were all for it!

NASSER HUSSAIN – NO

I certainly won’t be going down the road of criticising them for keeping the game moving forward and entertaining people with a different style of Test cricket. You can’t kick them the first time something hasn’t worked.

PAUL NEWMAN – NO

You only had to look at the crowd’s reaction when Ben Stokes declared to know this was in keeping with the way England are playing. They celebrated it like a Cup final-winning goal. There were more reasons, liked dropped catches and perhaps a lack of killer instinct, why England lost here.

RICHARD GIBSON – SORT OF

I am not sure it cost the match but I didn’t agree with leaving first-innings runs out on the field. I know why England say they are doing things their way but it felt to me that making further hay with the bat was the positive option.