India up for the Lord's challenge
Nottingham: India have not lost a Test at Trent Bridge since 1959. What's more, they ended up on the winning side at the same venue in 2007. Can this piece of statistic be of any consolation to a depleted Indian side which has its backs to the wall?
Going into the second Test with a 0-1 scoreline, the series, as well as India's reputation, is on the line. England are on their heels to dethrone Dhoni & Co from the No 1 position.
But such situations are not new to this Indian team which has been atop the ICC Test rankings table since October 2009. India bounced back in Sri Lanka last year, against Australia at home and then against South Africa ' both at home and away ' to prove that they are worthy table toppers.
In Durban late last year, India bounced back in style after suffering a heavy defeat against South Africa at Centurion. Adverse situations are not new to this Indian side that has the habit of winning big games. Trent Bridge is one of the biggest games they can face.
'Being the No 1 team, India have conquered a lot of challenges. A lot of players are experienced enough, a lot of them have played in these conditions. We have come here to take up the challenge and we will definitely fight it out,' said Abhinav Mukund, showing maturity that far exceeds his age.
With Zaheer Khan virtually ruled out of the second Test, S Sreesanth looks certain to take the place of the India spearhead. The Kerala pacer was in the thick of action in the nets on Wednesday. Mukund went on to say that the team still has options. 'It is not that we have a depleted attack,' the left-handed opener said.
'Zaheer has been our strike bowler for a long time. But Ishant has been doing well ' he was the Man of the Series in the West Indies, Praveen Kumar has just taken five wickets and Sreesanth is waiting in the wings. It's just that when you lose a fast bowler, it becomes a completely different scenario.'
The 21-year-old from Tamil Nadu sent out a message that the team is not unduly worried about the setback suffered at Lord's. 'We discussed the situation. We're all disappointed. There are a lot of good things from the first Test. It is a four-match series. We don't want to look back. We want to take the positives,' he said. But India's concerns are not in the bowling department alone.
The batting did not exactly set the Lord's Cricket Ground ablaze.
Every batsman, including Sachin Tendulkar, was guilty of wrong judgement. Under pressure to save the Test, the batsmen fell to the probing off-side line of the England pacers.
India had an extended training session on Wednesday, with bowlers and batsmen put through the paces by Duncan Fletcher. Tendulkar spent long hours at the nets. Mukund said there is a lot of experience in the side to know what do in such situations.
'A lot of these players have played in these conditions. We have come here to take up those challenges,' he said, hoping that he, too, will do better here. 'I have improved in the past few months and will be looking to continue my improvement. I'm disappointed I could not carry on after getting a good start at Lord's. I hope to do well in future.'
Nottingham: India have not lost a Test at Trent Bridge since 1959. What's more, they ended up on the winning side at the same venue in 2007. Can this piece of statistic be of any consolation to a depleted Indian side which has its backs to the wall?
Going into the second Test with a 0-1 scoreline, the series, as well as India's reputation, is on the line. England are on their heels to dethrone Dhoni & Co from the No 1 position.
But such situations are not new to this Indian team which has been atop the ICC Test rankings table since October 2009. India bounced back in Sri Lanka last year, against Australia at home and then against South Africa ' both at home and away ' to prove that they are worthy table toppers.
In Durban late last year, India bounced back in style after suffering a heavy defeat against South Africa at Centurion. Adverse situations are not new to this Indian side that has the habit of winning big games. Trent Bridge is one of the biggest games they can face.
'Being the No 1 team, India have conquered a lot of challenges. A lot of players are experienced enough, a lot of them have played in these conditions. We have come here to take up the challenge and we will definitely fight it out,' said Abhinav Mukund, showing maturity that far exceeds his age.
With Zaheer Khan virtually ruled out of the second Test, S Sreesanth looks certain to take the place of the India spearhead. The Kerala pacer was in the thick of action in the nets on Wednesday. Mukund went on to say that the team still has options. 'It is not that we have a depleted attack,' the left-handed opener said.
'Zaheer has been our strike bowler for a long time. But Ishant has been doing well ' he was the Man of the Series in the West Indies, Praveen Kumar has just taken five wickets and Sreesanth is waiting in the wings. It's just that when you lose a fast bowler, it becomes a completely different scenario.'
The 21-year-old from Tamil Nadu sent out a message that the team is not unduly worried about the setback suffered at Lord's. 'We discussed the situation. We're all disappointed. There are a lot of good things from the first Test. It is a four-match series. We don't want to look back. We want to take the positives,' he said. But India's concerns are not in the bowling department alone.
The batting did not exactly set the Lord's Cricket Ground ablaze.
Every batsman, including Sachin Tendulkar, was guilty of wrong judgement. Under pressure to save the Test, the batsmen fell to the probing off-side line of the England pacers.
India had an extended training session on Wednesday, with bowlers and batsmen put through the paces by Duncan Fletcher. Tendulkar spent long hours at the nets. Mukund said there is a lot of experience in the side to know what do in such situations.
'A lot of these players have played in these conditions. We have come here to take up those challenges,' he said, hoping that he, too, will do better here. 'I have improved in the past few months and will be looking to continue my improvement. I'm disappointed I could not carry on after getting a good start at Lord's. I hope to do well in future.'
News Posted: 28 July, 2011
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