England head coach Brendon McCullum has conceded that the team made a critical error at the toss in the second Test against India at Edgbaston, which contributed significantly to their heavy defeat. India triumphed by a massive 336 runs, securing their first-ever Test win at the Birmingham venue.

McCullum admitted that England missed a golden opportunity to bat first on what appeared to be an excellent batting surface. England captain Ben Stokes won the toss and chose to bowl, a decision that ultimately backfired. According to McCullum, the wicket didn't behave as expected over the five days of the match.

Speaking to BBC Test Match Special, McCullum acknowledged the misjudgment. "I think, as the game unfolded, we probably looked back on that toss and said 'did we miss an opportunity there,' and it's probably fair," he stated. He added, "We didn't expect that the wicket would play quite as it did, and hence we probably got it slightly wrong".

McCullum pointed out that England had India at 200 for 5 in the first innings but failed to capitalize on that advantage. He noted the difficulty of recovering after allowing the opposition to score 580 runs after winning the toss and electing to bowl. India, led by Shubman Gill's impressive 269 in the first innings, posted a formidable 587 and followed it up with 427 in the second innings before declaring. Gill was named Player of the Match for his performance.

The coach also highlighted the strong performance of the Indian bowlers, particularly Akash Deep, who took a ten-wicket haul in the match. He also anticipates Jasprit Bumrah's return for the third Test, which will pose a further challenge for England. "Bumrah will more than likely come back in for the next one, so we've just got to make sure we're well planned and well prepared and ready for the next challenge," McCullum said.

Despite the defeat, McCullum identified a positive takeaway from the game: the partnership between Jamie Smith and Harry Brook, which he said provided some balance for England. He also clarified that England's strategy is not inflexible but admitted that misreading the Edgbaston pitch had significantly contributed to their loss.

England had previously opted to bowl first at Headingley and conceded over 470 runs in the first innings, but they managed to recover and win. However, they could not repeat that comeback at Edgbaston, where India dominated throughout the five days. India's performance pushed England out of their comfort zone, setting a daunting 608-run target.