Gavaskar fears for ‘vulnerable’ India

Former captain believes England can win upcoming Test series.

MUMBAI: Batting great Sunil Gavaskar says England have a bright chance against a ‘vulnerable’ India as they bid for a first Test-series win against the hosts in almost three decades.

Gavaskar said the home side were going into the four-Test series against the world’s number two team with a ‘wobbly’ batting line-up and a weak-looking pace attack, with spin being the lone encouraging factor.

“Amazingly the situation is similar to the tours of England and Australia last year,” said Gavaskar. “Both England and Australia were vulnerable and there for the taking, but India messed it up. India today are in the same vulnerable position that England and, particularly, Australia were in 2011. With the openers too not quite in form, the batting is looking wobbly.

“The settled air [in the Indian ranks] that was there at the beginning of 2011 is not there and that is why this is a great chance for England.”

The tourists will play two Twenty20s after the Tests and will go home for Christmas before returning in the New Year for a five-match One-Day International series.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 31^st, 2012.