Team India have been tested frequently in challenging English conditions and more importantly their batting has let them down again and again on this tour. After winning the toss, Indian batsmen failed to sustain against the English bowlers and to get all out within two sessions is completely disappointing and frustrating for any side. It has happened more than once ins this series that the Indian batsmen have failed to deliver. Except for Indian skipper MS Dhoni and R Ashwin, no other Indian batsmen showed promise in these conditions, but that was not enough for the Indian side to recover who lost four wickets for only eight runs within six over. The only reconciliation for me was to see a captain’s knock from MS Dhoni, whose gritty innings may not have been able to save India but would definitely set an example to other young batsmen in the Indian dressing room.
One has to credit the English fast bowlers Stuart Broad and James Anderson in this series, who have been phenomenal with the new ball. They have utilized their home conditions to great advantage and have now landed their team in a comfortable position on the first day of the Test itself.
