India head coach Rahul Dravid pointed out a deeper issue behind India’s failure to close out Test matches in the final innings in South Africa and now in England. According to him, the team may be carrying fitness issues, and the bowlers haven’t been able to sustain the proper level of intensity.
The former India captain felt hurt after the recent loss in the Edgbaston Test that saw England record their highest-ever successful run-chase, losing only three wickets and taking less than 77 overs to reach a target of 378 against a much-vaunted Indian pace attack.
None of the Indian seamers went for less than 4.50 runs an over, with first and second change seamers Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur going for 6.50 and 5.90 against an England batting line-up prepared to take the attacking route. They never allowed the opposition to settle to a line and rhythm at the bowling crease, making it very difficult for the tourists to keep a leash on run-scoring and maintain some pressure.
Also read 👉 Imperious Bairstow, flawless Root outclass India to pull off England’s record chase
The seven-wicket defeat at Edgbaston meant India failed to win a Test series again in England, with the ‘Pataudi Trophy’ getting shared 2-2. The team haven’t won a series in England since the then-captain Dravid led the side to a 1-0 victory in a three-match rubber in 2007.
For Dravid, the theme in Edgbaston was similar to South Africa, where India missed a perfect opportunity to record their maiden Test series triumph. Taking a 1-0 lead in Centurion but failing to close out defences of 240 and 212 in the successive Tests played in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
“It’s been disappointing for us. I mean we had a couple of opportunities in South Africa as well and here as well. I just think it’s something we need to look at, something we need to probably work on,”
he was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
“We have been very good at that over the last few years, in terms of taking wickets and winning those Test matches. But, yeah, we haven’t been able to do that over the last few months.”
“It could be a variety of factors: it could be maybe we just need to maintain that intensity, maintain that level of fitness, or maintain that level of performance right through a Test match.”
While evidently disappointed with his bowling unit, the head coach was mindful that not all the blame for the defeat can be put on the bowlers.
He called out an insipid third-innings batting effort from the Indians, where they could only muster 120 runs for the last seven wickets on Day 4 after resuming play at 125/3, carrying a lead of 257 runs. When India had the opportunity to take the game away from England with a target near 500 runs, they folded for 245 and gave the hosts a sniff.
“In the second innings, we have not batted as well. If you look at all the third innings of these two Test matches overseas and this one, the batting has also probably not been up to scratch.”
“In both areas, we have sort of started the Test matches well but we haven’t been able to finish well and yeah we need to get better at that and certainly need to improve,”
Dravid said.
The defeat at Edgbaston also put a significant dent to their chances of reaching the final of the World Test Championship next year in England. Placed fourth in the table, the Indians next play Bangladesh in November, followed by a home Test series versus Australia in February-March.
