Captain Alastair Cook photo on my laptop is smiling. I have not got a single clue why? He talks in his familiar style after the match. The hopeful words keep coming out of his mouth. He honestly gives credit to Indian team for the special victory. After all, his team has performed like what has become a habit. Whole England team is out there hanging their heads down. India did which they had not done over 1100 days, a test win at overseas. The question here is - What happened to three lions?
Before the series started, there were serious allegations about how MS Dhoni's men will take over England? India has the worst record on England soil and the recent past had not been kind for the men in blue. Yes, England were struggling. But, could they be beaten by India? Many said no. India lack depth in bowling. Experts said Indian bowlers have not got ability to take 20 wickets. blah. blah. blah...
England have never been so vulnerable at home. A winless streak of 10 tests out of which seven are losses. The loss of some of the the key players like Swann, Trott, KP added with the poor run of Cook, prior clearly shows the chaos this team is going under. They have become insecure and wobbly. It seems as if they have lost the self-belief to win a cricket match. Against the Aussies, They were horrible in all formats of the game. They lost both ODI and test series against Sri Lanka in their home conditions. And now they are 0-1 down against India.
There was a time, this team rose to number one rankings in test cricket with the nucleus of Cook, Strauss, Trott, KP, Bell, Broad, Anderson. Although, most of them are still out there, but what they are lacking is the winning instinct. They are just not showing any stomach for fight. They are failing to perform as a unit. There was a time, when Even Broad used to get daddy tons for them. On those days, If you had missed even a run out chance of Cook, you would have been punished with a double hundred. Gone are those days, Gone are those moments. After Flower retired, there was a hope that new coach, new environment will bring some change. Instead, it has brought two test losses out of four, he has been a part of. England look arrogant at this instant. Their batting, bowling and their fielding have just become rubbish.
They are backing the players who had got them to rank one even with the overwhelming evidence that they are no more the same as then. Talking about Lords' wicket, it was one the the greenest wicket ever in the history of the game. Having the advantage of winning the toss and reducing India for 145 for 7, they let them come back in the game. In the second Innings, they were once 156 for 4 and then managed to lost 6 wickets for 50 runs. A perfect end for being so imperfect. Something is not quite right with this team.
With three more tests to go, Cook's men have got to prove something, not to the critics, but to themselves. They need to search the self-belief inside their souls.They need to get inspiration from how they defeated India in India two years ago from one test down. Perhaps, one last chance for Cook and co.
Signing out. Thanks.
Before the series started, there were serious allegations about how MS Dhoni's men will take over England? India has the worst record on England soil and the recent past had not been kind for the men in blue. Yes, England were struggling. But, could they be beaten by India? Many said no. India lack depth in bowling. Experts said Indian bowlers have not got ability to take 20 wickets. blah. blah. blah...
England have never been so vulnerable at home. A winless streak of 10 tests out of which seven are losses. The loss of some of the the key players like Swann, Trott, KP added with the poor run of Cook, prior clearly shows the chaos this team is going under. They have become insecure and wobbly. It seems as if they have lost the self-belief to win a cricket match. Against the Aussies, They were horrible in all formats of the game. They lost both ODI and test series against Sri Lanka in their home conditions. And now they are 0-1 down against India.
There was a time, this team rose to number one rankings in test cricket with the nucleus of Cook, Strauss, Trott, KP, Bell, Broad, Anderson. Although, most of them are still out there, but what they are lacking is the winning instinct. They are just not showing any stomach for fight. They are failing to perform as a unit. There was a time, when Even Broad used to get daddy tons for them. On those days, If you had missed even a run out chance of Cook, you would have been punished with a double hundred. Gone are those days, Gone are those moments. After Flower retired, there was a hope that new coach, new environment will bring some change. Instead, it has brought two test losses out of four, he has been a part of. England look arrogant at this instant. Their batting, bowling and their fielding have just become rubbish.
They are backing the players who had got them to rank one even with the overwhelming evidence that they are no more the same as then. Talking about Lords' wicket, it was one the the greenest wicket ever in the history of the game. Having the advantage of winning the toss and reducing India for 145 for 7, they let them come back in the game. In the second Innings, they were once 156 for 4 and then managed to lost 6 wickets for 50 runs. A perfect end for being so imperfect. Something is not quite right with this team.
With three more tests to go, Cook's men have got to prove something, not to the critics, but to themselves. They need to search the self-belief inside their souls.They need to get inspiration from how they defeated India in India two years ago from one test down. Perhaps, one last chance for Cook and co.
Signing out. Thanks.
