Published: Aug 18, 2018, 01:34 PM (IST)
Edited: Aug 18, 2018, 01:34 PM (IST)
Former England batsman Allan Lamb has called India’s dismal performance in the ongoing Test series against England as a “case of poor preparation.” The Virat Kohli-led India are currently trailing 0-2 to England and are staring at yet another overseas series defeat.
Several experts have cited as the lack of enough practice matches as the reason why India batsmen have been unable to adjust fully to the swing and seaming conditions. Sunil Gavaskar has made no secret of his disappointment in India not scheduling tour matches ahead of the high-profile series. India did play one tour match, against Essex, which was originally a four-day affair before being cut down to three days.
“It’s just a case of poor preparation,” Lamb was quoted as saying by the Times of India on Saturday. “England go to Australia and play two First-Class games and then get hammered in the first Test. So it’s imperative that the preparation has to be spot on when you are going out of your comfort zone.”
India’s tour of England began on July 3 with three T20Is followed by as many ODIs before a lone-practice match. The first Test began on August 1 and India lost it inside four days which was followed by utter humiliation at the Lord’s – an innings and 159-run win to the host.
Lamb said India shouldn’t have used the limited-overs leg of the tour to get in shape for the Tests as the formats require different skills and technique.
“I don’t know why they curtailed the practice game. And make no mistake, ODIs and Test matches don’t work together. The ball, the field setting — everything is different. When you play a Test, you need to spend time at the crease which is not the case in the shorter formats. These things happen with practice,” he said.
