Mumbai: England arrived on Indian shores with high hopes to replicate their success of 2012. They defeated India in India for the first time in over 28 years, four years back. England made a comeback after losing the first Test at Ahmedabad and then went on to win in Mumbai and Kolkata and drew the last Test in Nagpur. The story in 2016 seems quite different.
England started the tour on a high note with a draw at Rajkot, but then has capitulated at Vizag and Mohali. The Indian team has exploited the same old weakness and targeted the Achilles heel of England not playing spin well and they have been completely outplayed in all the departments.
England skipper Alastair Cook has broken all English records but on this trip he is looking a pale shadow of himself. He started the tour well with a customary hundred against India in India (five as of now, most by a visiting batsman in India). The skipper however, has lot on his plate and has looked puzzled and tired.
The extra burden of captaincy and also to lead from the front has started to take its toll on the broad shoulders of Captain Cook. Cook has been getting out to innocuous deliveries and his captaincy has not been very sharp either. Joe Root, the No 2 ranked Test batsman has not performed to his lofty standards and the batting looks fragile if Cook or Root does not perform.
England’s spin attack is not in the same league as India’s. Adil Rashid, the wrist spinner has performed admirably, but has not got support from the other end. Moeen Ali has been found wanting. Indian conditions demand that spinners play a big role and England with no one to support Rashid have fallen behind in that area.
The pace quartet of James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Chris Woakes and Ben Stokes have been over shadowed by India’s Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav. The Indian quicks have bowled with pace and generated reverse swing and gave a lesson on how to bowl on docile and flat tracks.
Comeback from here…
England have been one of the top sides in the world for the past
decade. Youngster Haseeb Hameed batted with a broken finger and showed guts and a fighting spirit. But he is leaving for home due to injury. The three stalwarts have not given up and fought even while losing in the last two Test matches and we are talking about Stokes, Broad and Bairstow.
England will be playing their next two Tests in Mumbai (triumph in 2006 and 2012) and Chennai, and the conditions will be sporting and whichever team plays on a good wicket will emerge victorious.
England have to decide on their best playing eleven and stick to it. The talk of number of right-handers and left-handers in the line-up should not matter and the sole focus should be on playing tough and determined cricket.