ENG vs IND 2018: Nasser Hussain Takes Dig At India's Performance At Lord's, Says It's Like 'Men vs Boys'

Former England skipper Nasser Hussain has said the ongoing England vs India Test series seems like a competition between men and boys after the hosts dismantled the visitors by an innings 36 runs in the second game at Lord’s.

Before the start of the series, the cricketing world had expected a thrilling contest between India and England. The world number one Test side had arrived in England after winning nine of their last ten series. On the other hand, England enjoyed a near perfect record at home this decade. The enthralling contest during the T20I and ODIs further raised the hopes.

And the Test series began on a good note. Both the teams fought out of their skin before England managed to win the low-scoring thriller by 31 runs. However, all the pre-series predictions and promises went up in smoke as India crumbled in the second Test at Lord’s. Such was the performance from India that England managed to win the game inside four days despite the first day being entirely washed out in addition to the match being marred by several rain-breaks.

Overall, India batted less than 83 overs in the game. The top and middle-order batsmen once again repeated their Birmingham performance.

In the first innings, they were all out for just 107 with James Anderson taking 5 for 20 in conditions which were tailor-made for fast-bowlers. 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 were eventually all out for 130 as England won the game by an innings and 159 runs.

And Nasser said that the level of competition between the two sides was a disappointing one.

“England are arguably the best in the world in these conditions but the real eye has to be on India – they have to be wary of the wheels completely falling off,” Hussain told Sky Sports Cricket.

“India are No 1 in the world and it was meant to be a gun, tight series but at the moment it is men against boys. Their curve is going in the wrong direction.”

“They were in the game for a long time last Test. But the back injury to Kohli is a concern, the fingers of (Ravichandran) Ashwin took a blow, the rest of their batting line-up continues to fail and there are no practice games in between,” he added.

Nasser further said that there will be no let-up from the English side at Trent Bridge, venue for the third Test.

“They have got to dig really deep – there are some really good cricketers in that dressing room and they have to come out fighting.

“I don’t think it will be as tough as this. They can draw on the fact it’s been as hard as it can be. But Trent Bridge does a bit. (James) Anderson will be a threat, (Stuart) Broad got 8-15 there against Australia. These England players have fond memories, so it won’t get that much easier,” he said.

The cricketer-turned commentator concluded by saying that England would be keen to avenge their 4-0 loss in India two years ago.

“This is payback time a little bit for England after losing 4-0 in India and I don’t see them letting up. I have seen that they are a hungry team. They won’t rest on their laurels, they want to get better and better.”