Wasim Akram says RP Singh is a great choice but if England have to be tamed, the onus lies with India's top batsmen.

By Wasim Akram

With their backs to the wall, Team India have no option but to give their best in the next two Test matches at Edgbaston and the Oval. I can imagine the mood in the dressing room. The euphoria after winning the World Cup must have vanished by now and Dhoni is surely a much-worried man.

I have never seen such a listless Indian side in recent times. The team has been just going through the motion and at Trent Bridge, the Indians gave the impression that they had thrown in the towel on Day 4 itself. Is this the sign of a team that’s No. 1 in the Test rankings? Drooping shoulders, stingless bowling and schoolboy-like batting have made India look like a team that has no pride. This is not the India that we wanted to see in England.

Tours like England actually tell you the class and depth of a team. Except for Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and to a small extent Sachin Tendulkar, there is not much to write home about the current squad. I would reckon English conditions are the toughest in the world. England is more challenging than South Africa or Australia. Down Under, the wicket flattens out on the third day but in England the ball keeps seaming around.

So as a batsman, you can never be at peace on English pitches. One has to play each ball on its merit. One can forget the fuller length balls. Guys like Yuvraj and Raina may be hugely talented players but till they can handle seaming conditions with flair, they can’t be called complete batsmen. It is exactly here where Dravid, Laxman and Tendulkar triumph over their junior teammates.

With Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh out of the series, the Indian XI almost picks itself. On paper, Virender Sehwag’s return is a great boost but Team India will need him not only to score runs but occupy the crease as well. This will be Sehwag’s biggest test of character as he is fully capable of taming the English bowlers.

Too much is being made of Tendulkar scoring his 100th international century. I am sure Tendulkar himself doesn’t like all the hullaballoo around it. For me, the team’s success is more important. It will be great if Tendulkar can achieve the landmark, which he will. He looked good in the second innings at Trent Bridge but ran out of partners. At Edgbaston, Tendulkar will surely like to see more conviction from the Indian middle-order.

I am happy to see RP Singh’s return to the Indian team. He is a good replacement for Zaheer and is one bowler who can really trouble the English batsmen. His upright, seam-up action helps the ball slant easily and India will be tempted to play him ahead of Sreesanth. Ishant and Praveen will complete the pace troika but this duo must not lose heart when a partnership is building. Having said this, I would have loved to see Laxmipathy Balaji in England. He swings the ball well and has works up a decent pace too.

Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown. So, Edgbaston will test India’s pride. I can only see India turning this Test series around and keep the interest alive till the last ball is bowled at the Oval. Go India, go!