Chairman of the National cricket selection panel K. Srikkanth believes the quality of the English pace bowling has been the single biggest reason for India going 3-0 down after the first three Tests in the Old Blighty. In the process, India lost the No. 1 Test spot to England.
“It has been high-class swing and seam bowling from England that has caused the maximum damage. The conditions favoured the pacemen and England exploited them ruthlessly,” he said.
Srikkanth added, “India's top five has been its greatest strength. But apart from Rahul Dravid, no other batsman made runs. It is sad but we have to face the reality.”
The selection panel chief said, “This has been one series where most things have gone wrong for India. We have failed to put runs on the board, the bowling has not been incisive and the fielding has been ordinary. The injuries have not helped either. The series has been like a bad dream.”
Will look to rebuild
Srikkanth revealed India would seek to rebuild after the series. “We have to learn from the series in England, look into what went wrong. We also have to identify and support new talent when the time comes.”
The former India captain said, “While India's performance in England has been disappointing, people should not forget that this team has played some very good cricket to reach the No. 1 spot and stay there for 20 months. One bad series cannot nullify all your past achievements.”
Srikkanth added, “We went to South Africa and drew the series there. And South Africa has a very good pace attack. We went to the West Indies without six players who could have been part of the first eleven. Still, we won the first Test and could have won at least one more had the weather not intervened.
“People have every right to dissect the causes for the defeat in the series in England, look at it from every possible viewpoint. But let us also acknowledge this Indian team's achievements over the past three years.”