Thaindian News

London, Aug 12 (IANS) Former England batsman Geoffrey Boycott has said the Indian cricket team in the ongoing series against England has looked like a pale shadow of an average team.

England have dominated the Test series so far, leading 2-0 and also hold the upper hand in the ongoing third Test at Edgbaston, which if they win will make them the top Test team.

Boycott said the way the Indians are performing has left everyone wondering how they achieved the No.1 ranking.

“If you are looking for competitive cricket you are not going to find it in this Test match. England are delivering good stuff with intensity and good professionalism but they are playing an Indian side that I do not recognise,” Boycott wrote in his column in Daily Telegraph.

“The question everybody keeps asking is how the hell did India get to number one in the world playing like this?

“They look a shadow of even an average team. The bowlers try hard but are military medium and the fielding at times is so unathletic it beggars belief. There are players walking around just waiting for the close of play and expecting England to win the game.”

“Rahul Dravid put down two straightforward catches at first slip and Sreesanth dropped a sitter at point,” he said.

Boycott said the third Test has simply been a one-sided affair and England will win whenever they want.

“England will win this match - it’s just a matter of when. They will bat until after lunch and then get stuck in to India’s batters.

“It’s not England’s fault but the cricket has been uninteresting. It is not a contest. It is quite obvious that England can win the match whenever they want. They are dominating that much,” he said.

“The Indian bowlers must feel demoralised bowling to this excellent England side on a good pitch and with no help whatsoever from their colleagues in the team.

“By the end of play, we had Raina and Tendulkar bowling and it looked like a charity match.”