ENG vs IND 2018: India Look So Far Behind England In This Series: Ashley Giles

Former England spinner Ashley Giles believes India face a herculean task in making a comeback into the ongoing England vs India Test series after the drubbing they received at Lord’s.

Hopes were sky high from the current Indian side. India had arrived in England after winning 9 of their last 10 series. Moreover, the way the team had performed in the limited-overs series and gave England a run for their money in the first Test, many speculated that the series will be closely fought. However, India failed to live up to the expectations as they lost the second game by an innings and 159 runs.

The Indian batsmen looked lost in swinging conditions as England thoroughly dominated the second Test. Very few would have predicted that the game would end inside four days after the first day was washed out and the game was marred by several other rain-interruptions. But the failure of batsmen saw England cruise to a thumping win.

In the first innings, India were all out for just 107 with James Anderson taking 5 for 20. In reply, England scored a mammoth 396 for 7 to put the game beyond India’s reach. And the visitors did little to challenge England.

Trailing by a huge 289 runs, draw was the only option for India. However, it took England less than two sessions to bundle up the world number one Test side. India never looked in contention to save the game and were all out for just 130. Overall, India batted less the 83 overs in the game.

And Giles now believes India would find it extremely tough to claw their way back in the series.

“India have some fantastic cricketers, but there were caught up in a perfect England storm. The conditions, pitch and the way England performed, everything went against India,” he told mid-day.

“In a five-match Test series, it is going to be really difficult to get something positive out of this. One hopes that they can win a Test match and that will be good for them because they look so far behind England in this series. It is going to take a lot of effort to achieve that,” he added.

Giles further spoke on the condition of spin bowlers in England. While the country constantly produces fast-bowlers, the case is a bit different when it comes to producing spinners. Ever since the retirement of Graeme Swann, England have tried out as many as six spinners but without much success.

“It’s always a constant topic of conversation. You look at our recent spinners — Swann was a generational spinner, players that have take 200 wickets don’t come along that often. Even if you look at Phil Tufnell, myself and a Monty Panesar, we got around 150 Test wickets, so that is just the way it has been in England.

“At Warwickshire and even the ECB has a terrific program to encourage and have a path for spinners. Pitches in this country right now probably offer more spin than ever before. Unfortunately, the county pitches don’t really allow them to get into the game, the seamers are into the game and the games move at a rapid pace, so it becomes difficult for the spinners to really settle or get into the game,” he said.