England can't afford to play the waiting game in Southampton as India will hit them hard

Ajit Vijaykumar 08:33 29/08/2018
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • England are leading the five-Test series 2-1. They crushed India inside two days at Lord’s and only need to draw one of the remaining two Tests against India to ensure they don’t lose the series. They are playing at home and have a pretty much fully fit side to choose from.

    But after world No1 India fought back in Trent Bridge, the equation has changed. It’s the Indians who are looking like the team that is 2-1 ahead in the series. And there is a reason for it.

    India began the England tour as the favourites. Their bowling attack is world-class with enough venom and variety to get 20 wickets cheaply against any side. However, injuries to Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah denied them their two best bowlers in the first two Tests. Also, selection mistakes in the opening two games plus an abysmal batting effort from almost everyone apart from captain Virat Kohli saw them fall behind quickly.

    But the thing about five-match series is there is enough time to find a way back. Even at 2-0 down. And at Trent Bridge, India did that. Their openers put on 50-plus partnerships in both innings and the Indians crossed 300 in both essays. Bowling has not been a problem for India for the better part of two seasons and they didn’t need a second invitation to bowl the team to a 203-run victory.

    It was the manner of their win that has given India confidence going into the fourth Test in Southampton.

    Jasprit Bumrah provided the pace spark that the Indian team needed. Suddenly, all four Indian pacers were comfortably outgunning their English counterparts in the speed department and that works on the psychology of a team. When the opposition knows they can only take blows without landing ones of equal ferocity, half the battle is won.

    Aggression is Kohli’s mantra. He lives for a challenge on the field and expects his players to abide by that philosophy as well. It works brilliantly when the going is tough. Attritional cricket is not the style of this Indian team and England need to match that intensity in the fourth Test.

    The hosts are in a quandary. If they prepare a lively pitch in the next two Tests, India’s fast bowlers will make life miserable for their batsmen. If they go for a flat surface, India’s batsmen will pile on the runs and the pressure of the scoreboard can weigh on the English line-up which has been misfiring for some time.

    India’s eleven looks settled now and there is every chance the visitors will go in with an unchanged XI. England, on the other hand, will be considering whether to bring in left-arm seamer Sam Curran in place of Chris Woakes while Jonny Bairstow’s long-term future as a Test wicket-keeper has been suddenly and unnecessarily questioned. Also, England’s openers Keaton Jenning and now even Alastair Cook look some way off their best.

    It’s imperative that England don’t wait for things to happen because India are on a roll. They were just waiting for their batsmen to find some form as their bowlers have been delivering admirably. It’s up to England to match the level of the Indian team.

    Recommended