NEW DELHI: Former Indian batsman VVS Laxman feels the advantage is with India going into the third Test against England at Headingley in Leeds starting on Wednesday. India are 1-0 up in the five-match series having won the second Test at Lord's by 151 runs.
In his column for the Times of India, Laxman wrote, "A week is a long time in international sport, but this period between the second and third Tests would have given England and India time to recoup physically and mentally after the enervating, compelling contest at Lord's. The force is clearly with the visitors, especially after the drama that unfolded on the final day. England are on the cricketing and mental back foot, so the first point of order for Virat Kohli's team will be to begin the third Test strongly and reopen some of the wounds that might still be festering."
The Indians' 151-run victory in the second Test was secured on a dramatic final day at Lord's when England were bullied into submission in a fractious environment that saw lots of sledging from both teams. And Laxman feels India can get on top of England if they dominate on Day 1.
"If India can make a strong statement on Day One, be it with bat or ball, I foresee another English capitulation. Already handicapped by the absence of several key personnel, England will make forced and tactical changes to their playing eleven. Mark Wood's unavailability will be a big setback because he possesses the additional yards of pace no other England bowler can summon, and a business-like approach by India will rekindle the gremlins of self-doubt that must be gnawing at England," Laxman added.
Test match cricket returns to Headingley for the first time in two years. India have not played a Test at Headingley since a commanding innings win in 2002 built on hundreds by Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly.
"Historically, Headingley has been the most bowler friendly venue in England, with overhead conditions facilitating swing and the surface aiding lateral movement. As they have often shown in the last couple of years, India have the resources to make the most of such assistance. If they can make early inroads and bring Joe Root to the crease when the ball is still new, that will add to the already heavy burden of responsibility and expectations on the England captain's shoulders. He needs other batsmen to step up because it's humanly impossible to maintain his extraordinarily high standards, but whether they will be allowed to do so by India's gun pace attack is another matter altogether," Laxman opined.
The opening pair of KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma have given India strong starts in both the matches. Rahul (129) and Rohit (83) shared a stand of 126 runs at Lord's.
"The discipline and temperament of openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul have been exemplary. They are making time in the middle count, thereby laying the foundation for a total above par in English conditions. The experienced middle-order hasn't quite fired, but Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane will draw confidence from extended stints under pressure in the second innings at Lord's. Virat's having one of those lean patches every cricketer goes through, and this will be as good a time as any to end his string of low scores. India need to remain as intense and show as much intent as on Day Five of the previous Test. They struck the right balance between aggression and composure, and that's something Virat and Ravi Shastri would have driven home in the lead-up to the Leeds showdown. They would also have reminded the team that, with four pacers in the mix and WTC points being docked for slow over-rates, fielders must move quickly between overs so that they can avoid the disappointment of losing points, as happened in the first Test," Laxman signed off.
