England seek India whitewash at Oval
England will look to cement their place as the world’s number one
Test side by completing a whitewash of India when the fourth and final
match of their series starts at The Oval today.
India arrived atop the ICC’s Test Championship table but
progressively larger defeats, by 196 runs at Lord’s, 319 runs at Trent
Bridge and a massive innings and 242 runs at Edgbaston, have left them
3-0 down.
Injuries and a lack of preparation time in English conditions have
played their part, with India’s much-vaunted top order having failed to
fire in this campaign England opener Alastair Cook’s Test best 294 at
Edgbaston was a larger score than the tourists have managed in any
innings this series.
But now their fans must hope a match at The Oval, where 40 years ago
India secured a victory that saw them win their first series in England,
will see the tourists restore some pride.
England, however, want to finish with a flourish as they begin their
quest to be regarded as one of the best sides of all time.
For those such as Kevin Pietersen, a member of the side that lost the
Ashes 5-0 in Australia in 2006/07, the memory of that humiliating defeat
remains a powerful incentive.
“I played against the Australia team in 2006/07 and I promise that
every day we were not looking forward to it because we were going to get
dealt with,” former England captain Pietersen recalled.
“That is what I hope we can do to opposition, but it is going to be
tough,” the South Africa-born batsman added.
“Potentially, yes, opposition will be fearful of us.”
England head into the series final with strike bowler James Anderson,
who is struggling with a thigh problem, an injury doubt. AFP
|