Indian cricket team flatters to deceive: England wins 4-0

The fifth and final day of the fourth test match required India to face 90 over’s with 7 wickets in hand to enforce a draw .After a solid fight back which saw Sachin Tendulkar and Amit Mishra in a 144 run stand, the rest of the players fell like the proverbial nine pins. The duo came together in the fag end of the fourth day and continued their vigil well beyond lunch time on the fifth and final day. The fall of Mishra on 84 saw the flood gates opening. India lost the last 7 wickets for mere 21 runs in an abject surrender to an English team which is good but certainly not invincible. In the end, England won by an innings and 8 runs and completed a 4-0 white wash. To rub salt into the wounds Sachin was unable to complete what would have been his 100^th international ton and fell short by just 9 runs. At the same time India slipped to third position behind England and South Africa in the test rankings.

       The one off 20-20 and 5 one day internationals are to follow. But given the form and morale of the team the picture is not very rosy. There is certainly no dearth of talent in the Indian team, having performed brilliantly over the last few years both at home and overseas. It is my personal opinion that there is no need to over analyze the defeats. The need of the hour is temperament and strength of character. There should be pride in representing ones country and commitment to do well for its honour. Each and every player must go and fight it out in the middle. It would take a herculean effort to win the one day series against an English team which is high on confidence. But then stranger things have happened.