Day 4 performance was vital, says Swann

Off-spinner credits Flower’s pep-talk for England’s turnaround.

Right-arm off-spinner Graeme Swann believed England’s performance on the fourth day of the third Test against India played a crucial role in their seven-wicket win over the hosts, according to Sky Sports.

India were 86 without loss in their second-innings at lunch and were set to give their opponents a challenging score to chase on a wearing pitch in Kolkata. However, the tourists had a different plan for India.

“With the Mumbai Test last week when we lost the toss and somehow managed to come from behind in the game and win, you don’t ever think you’re going to emulate that,” said Swann. “But we did the same here. We lost the toss on day one on a pitch that for two sessions looked undeniably slow and low, and we thought it was going to be a real long haul to try and win the game from here.

“But that session on Saturday after lunch, after a pep talk from Andy Flower at lunchtime, those sessions come few and far between so it’s good that we’re on the right side of it.”



Meanwhile, pacer James Anderson, who took six wickets in the match, thinks England still have the ability to make improvements in their game-play as they look to secure their lead in the series in the final Test in Nagpur, starting on Thursday.

‘England expect a result pitch in the final Test’

Captain Alastair Cook has acknowledged that with their lead in the series at 2-1, he would ‘take a draw’ if it was presented. If England manage to beat the hosts, they will achieve what only a few have before them. It dates back to 1988-1989, when the West Indies beat India in all three straight Tests at home.

Batting coach Graham Gooch, a veteran in his playing days of three Test tours to India, is aware from his own past experience how difficult it is to win there.

“I don’t think for one minute that the guys think the job is done,” said Gooch. “I don’t think I’m giving anything away by saying it’s going to be a result pitch in Nagpur. But at least after our last two performances, we can go there with confidence.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 11^th, 2012.

Correction: An earlier version of this article was incorrectly posted with a picture of Graeme Smith, instead of Graeme Swann. The image has been replaced. The error is regretted.