ENG vs IND 2018: VVS Laxman disappointed with India's lack of fighting spirit at Lord's

VVS is very disappointed with India's poor showing in the second Test.

VVS Laxman (AFP)

Having seen India embarrassingly bundle out for just 107 and 130 in both innings and lose the game by an innings and 159 runs at the Home of Cricket, former Indian great VVS Laxman has said that he felt very disappointed with the performance of Virat Kohli's men at Lord's. 

"After excellent commitment at Edgbaston, the lack of fight (at Lord's) was galling," a clearly hurt VVS wrote in his column for Times of India and added, "England did have the better of the conditions, but they also made the most of the assistance they received, while India caved in meekly, especially when it came to batting. As much as the technical inadequacies, what stood out was a lack of belief. It manifested itself in tentativeness, Once you start doubting your abilities, there is no way back."

"Every member must look at himself, ask tough questions and find honest answers. India have the wherewithal from a cricketing perspective to fight back from 2-0 down, but for that, they must first sort out the issues in their minds, which clearly are several," 

VVS then reiterated stats of India's last five overseas Tests in South Africa and England which give some really poor reading. 

"In their last 10 overseas innings, India have topped 250 only twice, and on both those occasions, Virat made a big hundred." wrote VVS, "That doesn’t reflect well on an experienced batting line-up that has played previously in England and is, therefore, aware of what to expect, James Anderson and Stuart Broad handed out a lesson in adaptability to India’s bowlers."

"It was as if they were resigned to their fate, which is something the think-tank must address quickly before the Nottingham Test later this week,"

VVS also feels that India got team combination wrong when they played the second spinner Kuldeep Yadav instead of the third seamer Umesh Yadav in conditions tailor-made for swing and seam. 

He wrote, "One should be flexible in team selection. At the toss on the second morning, with clouds gathering and everything crying out for a third specialist paceman, India left out Umesh Yadav and brought in Kuldeep Yadav."

"As well as Hardik Pandya bowled, India were unable to maintain relentless pressure when England were 131/5, which helped Jonny Bairstow and Chris Woakes to stage a wonderful rescue act," and concluded. 

(Inputs from Times of India)

 
 

By Kashish Chadha - 14 Aug, 2018

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