Former Indian cricketer Bishan Singh Bedi hails Team India and says Virat Kohli is 'in the form of his life' ; slams Alastair Cook's batsmen for lack of doggedness at the ongoing Test series
Indian players celebrate the dismissal of England skipper Alastair Cook on Day Three of the third Test in Mohali recently. Pic/PTI
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Bishan Singh Bedi has seen many a fine England team, but the current one under Alastair Cook won’t make it to his list.
“I am most disappointed at this team. Their body language has been atrocious apart from the fact that they have been dropping catches and not cashing on the toss which they won in two of the three Tests,” Bedi told mid-day.
The results in the last two Tests have chipped at England’s potential. “Nothing is going right for this England team and no sport is worth watching if there is no contest. This Indian team can beat England anywhere. Virat Kohli is in the form of his life. He is at the peak of his form and has worked hard for his success,” said Bedi.
No doggedness of the past
Bedi played six Test series against the Englishmen (from 1967 to 1979) apart from a county stint with Northamptonshire. “What is missing is the doggedness of the past. They lack players like Ken Barrington and Geoff Boycott, who could drop anchor.
“On these kind of wickets you need tight defence to stay. You also need loads of concentration and that is not happening,” said Bedi who felt the English batsmen are lured into going for big shots.
“There is a temptation to go for your shots with a nice, meaty bat, but you can’t go for your shots all the time. This is Test cricket. However, I like the attitude of that 19-year-old kid Haseeb Hameed,” said India’s captain in the 1976-77 home series against Tony Greig’s England.
Bishan Singh Bedi
Why a break?
He slammed the concept of rest and recreation which had the England team traveling to Dubai at the end of the third Test in Mohali.
“You true character emerges when the chips are down. You don’t need a break, you need to get into the cricketing groove. If you are jaded then, what price professionalism? Surely, England would not have been seen with such poor body language against Australia. They would have been torn to shreds by their media.
“Look at how Australia are coming back. They won the third Test against South Africa, but it cannot be called a consolation win because they went after South Africa. That is called spirit,” said Bedi.
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