India's Manchester Test Defeat to England Bizarre, Says Rahul Dravid
Rahul Dravid said it was hard to understand how India lost nine wickets in a session on a pitch where the ball was not doing much in the humiliating innings defeat against England at Old Trafford.
Rahul Dravid was left stunned with India's dramatic collapse against England in their Manchester defeat, where they lost nine wickets in what was the final session of the Test, losing the penultimate match of the series by an innings and 54 runs. ('Rejuvenated' Alastair Cook admits he was running out of chances)
A former skipper, Dravid was India's most successful batsman on India's last tour of England in 2011, which saw the tourists being hammered in all four Tests. That performance three years ago from an ageing side was shambolic but the Old Trafford rout has set a new low for Indian cricket. (India were awful, says Geoffrey Boycott)
The spineless display Saturday afternoon left Dravid dazed and lost for words. (India's poor show in England shocks one and all)
"It(nine wickets in a session) is almost bizarre. It's hard to understand. India kept losing wickets," Dravid told Cricinfo's Match Point. (James Anderson: The warrior who emerged stronger after Jadeja row)
"It was always going to be difficult for India once they were 215 runs behind but the fact that they lost nine wickets in a session, when the pitch was not seaming and there was no vicious turn, showed tentative cricket. Everything went well for England," Dravid said. (India flummoxed by Moeen Ali: Lack of intent or dearth of skill?)
The Old Trafford pitch was perhaps the best of the series so far, and India's batsmen had hardly any cause for alarm, but Moeen Ali finished with four of those nine wickets, while James Anderson removed Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli to leave India reeling. (Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara lose touch with technique as India suffer in England)
Dravid had been roped in as batting consultant by the BCCI for the initial phase of the series and his impact was almost immediate. India played out a dull draw on a flat Trent Bridge pitch before pulling off one of their greatest Test win at Lord's on a green surface.
India will need to come back hard in the final Test at The Oval from August 15.