India in England: Don't Think Follow-on Would be Enforced, Says Sunil Gavaskar

Sunil Gavaskar backed India to avoid the follow-on against England on the fourth day of the third Test in Southampton but felt Alastair Cook would not ask the tourists to bat again even if they failed to get the 47 runs needed for the 370-mark. (Scorecard)

MS Dhoni was unbeaten on 50, his 31st Test half-century as India went to stumps on 323/8, trailing England by 246, with a real danger of losing the match. The India captain had Mohammed Shami for company and his batting skills could prove vital when they look to stall Cook's bowlers on the fourth morning. Gavaskar, however, felt England would play it safe even if they picked up the remaining four wickets early on the fourth morning.

"Avoiding the follow-on won't be difficult if Dhoni gets to bat most of the deliveries. I don't know much about Pankaj Singh's batting but I know that Shami can hang around. So there is a possibility that India can get those 47 runs needed to avoid the follow-on," Gavaskar told NDTV.

The former India captain felt England would be wary of enforcing the follow-on because the move could boomerang on them, if they were required to bat on a final-day pitch.

"Even if they (India) don't (avoid the follow-on) I have my doubts whether England will enforce it. Everybody knows that on Days 4 and 5, there will be a bit of turn and although India have only (Ravindra) Jadeja, they have used Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay as other spin options. And even if it is only a matter of scoring 170 and the ball is turning, England will struggle," Gavaskar said.

Gavaskar, now a commentator, also slammed the Indian batsmen's tactics against Moeen Ali and said  they had underestimated his abilities as a spinner. Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane fell to Ali, playing poor shots after looking good to play long inning.

"When you do all the hard work and get out, it is not a good thing for the team. A lot of the Indians are underestimating Moeen Ali. He is not a (Graeme) Swann but he has picked up 12 wickets and has not done a bad job at all. India generally underestimate spinners and have played Ali against the spin."

Gavaskar said the fact that India have allowed Ali to get as many as 12 wickets on surfaces where the ball is not turning much showed how poorly their batsmen have played him.

Gavaskar also praised the England pacers for bowling a fuller length in this match, as opposed to Trent Bridge and Lord's.