4th Test: Downcast India out to restore pride

4th Test: Downcast India out to restore pride
London: Team India hopes to lift the gloom from its campaign in England by putting up a spirited performance in the fourth and final Test starting at The Oval on Thursday, after England inflicted three humiliating defeats on the visitors to become the No. 1 team in Test cricket.
It's been 12 years since India last lost all the Tests in a series, losing 0-3 to Australia in 1999-2000. On form, experts don't rule out another whitewash 12 years later. So it's up to the seniors now to hush the rising voices of Team India's detractors.

In all probability, The Oval Test will be the last in England for the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman. And while Dravid still remains the standout performer among the ruins, Tendulkar and Laxman would want to shed off disappointment and help the team cross the 300-run mark, which India haven't achieved in six innings on tour so far.
But that responsibility also lies with the other batters, of which only skipper MS Dhoni has shown some signs of returning to form with two half centuries at Edgbaston. And though, Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir are yet to take off, they remain the best bet to open by a yard. That leaves the management with a choice to make between an off-colour Suresh Raina and eleventh-hour reinforcement Virat Kohli.
After making just 105 runs in six innings and showing no signs of improvement against short-pitched bowling, Raina looks certain to lose his place to Kohli.
So it could be Sehwag, Gambhir, Dravid, Tendulkar, Laxman, Kohli and Dhoni forming up India's batting line-up at The Oval.
The pace bowling has done relatively well so far when compared to batting. Praveen Kumar and Ishant Sharma will remain the first choice in the absence of Zaheer Khan. Since The Oval track is expected to favour batsmen, Dhoni may want to utilise the discipline of Munaf Patel instead of an expensive S Sreesanth.
But if the think-tank wants a left-arm quick in the squad, then Zaheer's replacement RP Singh may get his first Test cap since April 2008.
Amit Mishra was pathetic as the lone spinner in the playing XI at Edgbaston. So in all likelihood, Pragyan Ojha will take his place to complete the lineup in London.
England's stated ambition is to win the series 4-0 and with hardly any chinks in their armour, they look good to achieve that target, having already done that twice in a four- or five-match series: against India in 1959 and against West Indies in 2004.
Gaps between England and India, especially in batting, have widened as the series progressed.
- In comparison to nine 100-run partnerships by England, India have just one.
- While England batsmen have stacked up five centuries, including two double hundreds, India have just two - both by Dravid.
Looking at that, it’s pretty much evident that there are no batting worries for England. But a long Test series does have its effect, mostly on bowlers.
Chris Tremlett continues to nurse his injury and has been replaced by Graham Onions. But chances are next to impossible that Onions will replace Tim Bresnan, who has been instrumental in England winning the last two Tests. In fact, Bresnan has won all the nine Tests he has so far played for England and would want to make it 'perfect 10'.
But doubts over James Anderson's participation owing to tightness in his quadriceps may open the door of Onions or Steven Finn. However, form and past record suggest Andrew Strauss may nod in favour of Steven Finn - the youngest England bowler to take 50 wickets.
Though England are set to replace India as No. 1 in the ICC Test rankings, another loss at The Oval will hurt the visitors' ranking badly.
If India lose the fourth Test, they will drop two places to third in the ICC Test rankings. However, if India win or force a draw, they will stay ahead of South Africa in second position.