Indian performance was laughable: Shane Warne
Just after India's 319-run defeat at Trent Bridge, a strong emotion of humiliation, if you are an Indian, has engulfed the streets of Nottingham.
- mid-day.com
- Updated: August 03, 2011 12:13 pm IST
Just after India's 319-run defeat at Trent Bridge, a strong emotion of humiliation, if you are an Indian, has engulfed the streets of Nottingham. Ex-cricketers at the ground, locals, shopkeepers and fruit vendors are all poking fun at the world champions.
This is arguably the lowest point Indian cricket has seen since their shocking exit from the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean. The Indians didn't train on Tuesday, in an attempt to introspect over the debacle that was the Nottingham Test. (Also see: How India crumbled against England's pacers)
The only reprieve, if there is one, is the fact that people here are still talking about the controversial Ian Bell incident, and thus haven't got carried away with the possibility of dislodging India as the No 1 side at the end of the series.
"The Indians are far too vulnerable, they seem to break down against short-pitched bowling. Three of their batsmen played atrocious shots," Shane Warne told MiD DAY. "It was tough to fathom the ugly posture of their body movement whilst facing the short-pitched stuff, it was laughable," added Warne.
The spin legend was amazed that the Indian bowlers could not extract extra bounce and life on the same wicket that saw their English counterparts successfully move the ball. "It didn't pass for a battle between the best two sides in the world. It felt like one superior side against one side struggling to come to terms with itself," said Warne.
England batting great Geoffrey Boycott said: "All of England are laughing at the Indians because their batsmen did not show any courage. It was meek surrender and nothing else.
There were times when India played like a minnow side. I got the impression that they are just going through the motions - and have accepted that England are better."
Pakistan legend Wasim Akram doffed his hat to James Anderson for his spell on Day Four of the Trent Bridge Test.
"The best delivery of the match came from Anderson -- the in-swinging ball that uprooted VVS Laxman's stumps. It was a classic. At that point, it felt like England's bowling attack was much superior to India's" Akram told MiD DAY.
"India can just proceed and admit that they lost to a much better side," he added.