IND vs ENG: We Have To Reflect Why We Aren't Able To Bat Well In The Third Innings Of A Test Match – Rahul Dravid

India National Cricket Team head coach Rahul Dravid has said that the failure of Indian batters in the third innings of Test cricket games is a big concern for the team.

India lost the fifth and final Test match of the series against England by 7 wickets on Tuesday after England chased down the humongous 378 runs target to level the series.

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Notably, India have lost three overseas Test games in Dravid’s tenure as head coach, including two games in South Africa and one in England.

Meanwhile, Indian batters have failed to perform well in the third innings of all three games, as they scored 266 in Johannesburg, 198 in Cape Town and 245 in Birmingham. Also, India failed to defend targets of 240, 212 and 378.

Speaking to the press after the 5th Test, Rahul Dravid was asked how he plans to analyse after the defeat in the rescheduled Test.

Dravid said that the Indian batters failing in the third innings of a Test match and bowlers struggling in the 4th innings to pick 10 wickets are concerns for India and the selectors and the coaches will sit down to address the issue.

“There is so much of cricket that we aren’t having any time to reflect. In two days, we will be talking to you about something entirely different,” Dravid said at a press conference after the 5th Test against England, referring to the T20 International series starting in less than 48 hours.

“…But we will certainly try and reflect on this performance. Every match is a lesson for us and you tend to learn something. We have to reflect why we aren’t able to bat well in the third innings of a Test match and why we aren’t able to take 10 wickets in the fourth innings,” he said on a serious note.

“Now the next six Test matches are in sub-continent (2 in Bangladesh and 4 in India), and our focus will be on those remaining games but obviously, coaches and selectors would sit down and analyse this defeat.

“That review happens after every game and so when we next travel to SENA land, we are well equipped to deal with it,” he said.

We have been very good in the last few years being able to take those wickets – Rahul Dravid

Dravid further said that the Indian bowlers have been able to pick 10 wickets regularly in the last few years, but they have failed in the last few months.

“It is something that we need to look at and work on. We have been very good in the last few years being able to take those wickets but yeah we haven’t been able to do it over last few months,” said Dravid.

Rahul Dravid further listed out the factors that could be responsible for bowlers struggling in the 4th innings. He said:

“Could be a variety of factors — may be we need to maintain that intensity and may be we need to maintain that level of fitness, maintain that level of performance right through a Test match.”

“Also in all these Test matches, the batting has also not been up to the scratch in the third innings as well. So both in SA and here, we have started well but haven’t been able to finish well. Certainly, we need to get better at that and improve,” he added.

Also Read: IND vs ENG: We Are Trying To Rewrite How Test Cricket Is Played In England – Ben Stokes After England Complete Historic Run-chase In 5th Test

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