India buoyed by Test win
INDIA fought back brilliantly in the third Test match at Nottingham to silence their critics and stay alive in the vital, on-going five match series. Expertly marshalled by the world’s number one ranked batsman, Virat Kohli, the Indians invoked the spirit of Johannesburg earlier this year, to construct a rare away Test win against one of their traditional foes and make it 2-1.
The victim on that occasion was none other than the Proteas, and even though the series was already lost, who knows what may have happened if that particular battle was also five games.
Going into the third England Test, the Indians had their backs to the wall, having just endured two crushing defeats and most fans were envisaging a 5-0 whitewash. However, leave it to talisman and natural born leader Kohli to conjure up something special and turn the tables completely.
It has been stated in media circles that the majority of cricket fans, pundits, commentators and even fellow players, misconstrue his confidence for arrogance. Either way, the skipper has instilled a ruthless edge to this current team, which seemed to be lacking in previous touring teams.
Looking ahead to the fourth Test match, which will take place at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton from Thursday, England captain Joe Root and team will know all too well that they cannot afford another lacklustre performance and will have to improve in all three departments if they are to secure the series with a Test to spare.
Expert swing bowler James Anderson is hot on the heels of Glen McGrath’s all time tally of 563 Test wickets for a pace bowler and only requires seven more to edge in front of the alltime great Australian. Expect more swinging conditions, as well as the greenest pitch we have seen in the series thus far.
England will be buoyed by the form of their bowlers thus far, but it is their batting that will be of great concern. The openers have been poor, while their top six also remains unsettled. Batsman James Vince has been recalled to bolster the top order.
India, on the other hand, have seemed to get better and better with the bat (and ball) as the series has progressed, and will be quietly confident of repeating the feats of the previous match.
Kohli is enjoying the series of his life (440 runs at an average of 73.33) and was well supported by the likes of Ajinkya Rahane while all-rounder Hardik Pandya, whose place was on the line, also came good when it mattered most. English assistant coach Paul Farbrace believes that his players can learn a thing or two from the Indian leader.
“I think our players should be watching the way he plays. He almost takes third and fourth slip out of the equation,” said Farbrace.
The stage is set for a mouth-watering battle. Play gets under way at 12 noon (SA standard time) tomorrow.