England have made a strong comeback into the third Test by declaring their first innings for a mammoth 569 runs. With that kind of total in the first innings, any opposition team automatically goes in to a defensive mindset as then their first approach becomes to save a Test. Coming after the emphatic win at Lord’s, India would have certainly not expected this kind of response from the English batsmen, who looked clueless to their bowling in their second innings. There have been some big knocks for the home team in form of Gary Ballance and Ian Bell along with useful contributions from England Captain Alastair Cook and debutant Jose Butler at the lower order which has ensured that England is unlikely going to lose this Test match. India have badly missed the services of Ishant Sharma in this Test and without him the the Indian bowling attack has not looked very potent. The Indian bowlers failed to get important break-through at the right stages of the game and whenever they were able to get a wicket it was already too late for them.
In reply to England’s total, India has already lost the early wicket of Shikhar Dhawan which will send some jitters in the Indian dressing room as they face a daunting task of chasing the huge English lead.
