Former South African captain Graeme Smith doesn’t think England would be able to stage a comeback in the ongoing five-match Test series against India after a heavy defeat in the third Test .
Speaking about England’s chances in the ongoing Test series against India, Smith highlighted that once India gains an advantage in the series, they become formidable opponents, making it challenging for the visiting team to make a comeback.
However, Smith, the director of cricket for Cricket South Africa (CSA), commended England captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum for sticking to their ‘Bazball’ approach in India.
Graeme Smith was quoted as saying by The Wisden: “There's always been a lot of talent, but they seem to have taken away the fear, provided a lot of security for people and look at the game in a really positive way. England are certainly sticking true to the way that they want to play in India by applying pressure on the opposition and making them think.”
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Smith further advised England to stick to their game plan and maintain mental resilience, as the long days on the field under the scorching heat can exhaust them. He said it will be crucial for them to stay psychologically fresh in the remaining two games in India.
The former Proteas skipper added, “It's a very long tour and toiling against India like you have to, with long days in the field combined with the heat, can wear you down towards the back end of a series. Staying mentally fresh, positive, and within your gameplan is important. England have done that well so far and need to hang tough for as long as possible, because if India get their noses ahead then they'll be very difficult to chase down.”
Smith mentioned that ability to win Test series away from makes a team great.
He noted, “Being able to win away from home is the differentiator between a good team and a great team. There's no greater challenge than travelling into someone else's backyard for a few months at a time with their crowds, their media and their conditions, and proving that you have the team and the capabilities to compete there and win over an extended period.”
He signed off by saying, “That's something that we saw with the great West Indies side of the 1970s and 80s, and the great Australia side of the 1990s and 2000s - they really did dominate around the world. The South Africa side that I captained went nine years without losing a Test series away from home, but that consistency on the road hasn't been present in the world game of late. India, Australia and now England have all had teams with plenty of ability since then, but if you want to really step up then you need to do it away from home.”
(With IANS Inputs)
