NEW DELHI – India coach Ravi Shastri has called on the tourists batsmento show “resolve” even if it means they look “ugly and dirty” at thecrease, as they try to fight back against England.
Shastri s men are 2-0 down in a five-match series heading into the thirdTest at Trent Bridge starting Saturday after a thumping innings and 159-rundefeat at Lord s last week.
They were dismissed for just 107 and 130, while captain and star batsmanVirat Kohli — who made exactly 200 runs in a 31-run loss in the first Testat Edgbaston — was in evident pain from a back injury.
India badly needed some of the defiance that former spin-bowlingall-rounder Shastri showed with the bat in a career that yielded 11 Testcenturies, including hundreds in the Caribbean against the formidable WestIndies pace attacks of the 1980s, as well as scores of 107 and 187 againstEngland at Lord s and The Oval respectively in 1990.
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*Mental resolve*——————————
Shastri s competitive spirit remains intact off the field, with the56-year-old telling reporters at Trent Bridge on Thursday: “Batsmen fromboth teams have struggled.
“When the occasion demands, it s a case of mental resolve, how you put mindover matter and mental discipline will be the key as far as batsmen areconcerned going forward in this Test match.”
India had the worst of the conditions at Lord s, batting under overcastskies and on a pitch freshened by pre-match and in-game rain — anenvironment made to order for England new-ball duo James Anderson andStuart Broad.
Shastri, however, added: “Conditions have been tough as you have seen rightthrough this series. But that s where character and discipline comes intoplay, the resolve to know where your off stump is, to leave a lot of balls,be prepared to look ugly and dirty and show some grit.”
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*Kohli moving better*——————————
Shastri said it was vital India did not brood on what had happened atLord s as they looked to regain a foothold in the series.
“Just believe in yourself,” he said. “You have been in this position coupleof times before and you have responded.
“One thing for sure in this unit, there is no negative bone.
“In spite of what happened in the last Test match, conditions favouredEngland and that is no excuse whatsoever, it can happen to any side.
“We are here without a negative bone, wanting to play to win, as simple asthat.”
As for Kohli s fitness, Shastri said: “He is feeling much better. You sawhim in the nets, he is moving much better and improving by the day.”
Meanwhile Shastri paid tribute to former India captain Ajit Wadekar, whosedeath aged 77 was announced on Wednesday.
Wadekar led India to their first Test series wins in the West Indies andEngland, both in 1971, before becoming team manager in the 1990s.
“I m very sad,” said Shastri, like Wadekar a star of both Mumbai and Indiacricket.
“On behalf of the whole Indian cricket team, we would like to offercondolences to his family,
“I knew Ajit very well from a very young age, I lived in the same building.
“He was one of our finest captains and a great manager, when it came toman-management skills, and as shrewd as anyone you will ever get as acaptain.” – APP/AFP