SOUTHAMPTON, United Kingdom, July 26 (AFP): England won't just be looking to end a sequence of 10 Tests without a win when they face India in the third Test at Southampton Sunday, they will be aiming to restore their pride.
Monday's 95-run defeat in the second Test at Lord's, a result that put the tourists 1-0 up in the five-match series, came after England had won the toss on a pitch that might have been made to captain Alastair Cook's specific instructions and against an India side who had not won away from home in 16 previous Tests.
Whether it was Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowling like a classic seamer or opener Murali Vijay's invaluable second-innings 95, India excelled in disciplines that were once common to every county, let alone England, team.
And then compounding the 'role reversal' was the way the match ended, when several England batsmen succumbed to a bouncer-trap baited by Ishant Sharma who promptly took seven for 74 as India won only their sixth Test in England.
It was somehow typical of England's present plight the only player who was actually dropped from the squad for the third Test was left-arm spinner Simon Kerrigan, who didn't play at Lord's.
By then, experienced wicketkeeper Matt Prior had withdrawn, citing quad, Achilles and right hand injuries, to be replaced by 23-year-old Jos Buttler, uncapped at Test level but already England's limited overs gloveman.
Given England's extensive backroom staff, how was it that Prior, who dropped six catches of varying difficulty this season, had been selected to be behind the stumps for four straight Tests-with only one Championship match as a keeper behind him this season-when he was so clearly unfit?
England seek self-respect against India
FE Team | Published: July 27, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
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