India have relaxed net sessions ahead of Southampton Test

The critics had a harsh take on India’s practice sessions ahead of the third Test, thanks to the thumping they received at Lord’s. Former captain Sunil Gavaskar, too, lashed out at Virat Kohli’s men saying they had inadequate practice for the highly demanding Test series. But ahead of the fourth Test starting at the Ageas Bowl on August 30, the mood is much more relaxed since the visitors won the third game.

Tuesday saw the playing surface featuring a coat of green although that could vanish soon. And there is little chance that India will play as many as five quicks in Southampton in a quest to level the series. According to one of India’s main fast bowlers, Mohammad Shami, it is unlikely that India will go for an all-pace attack.

“It’s hard to field five quicks in a Test match. According to me, you need a spinner because, on the fifth day, it will turn for sure. I can definitely say that there will be a result on this wicket, and a good result,” Sportstar quoted him as saying.

Will Ashwin be seen in action in Southampton?

India could, on the other hand, face a tricky question over playing Ravichandran Ashwin. The 31-year-old spinner who is India’s most experienced on this tour was troubled by a stiff hip at Trent Bridge and did not bowl on Monday when the tourists trained at the Ageas Bowl for the first time.

He was back and bowled on Tuesday and was back to his normal self after starting lightly. Ashwin started the series well by picking seven wickets in the first match at Edgbaston but fell short of producing the same performance in the next two Tests, managing just one wicket in three innings.

New entrants in the Test squad – Prithvi Shaw and Hanuma Vihari – arrived in England last week and looked in fine touches with the bat though it is unlikely that they would earn their India caps in Southampton. India now trail 1-2 in the five-match series. The fifth and the final game will be played at the Kennington Oval between September 7 and 11.

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