London: Former England captain Nasser Hussain had some strong words for Virat Kohli and Co after India lost the Lord’s Test against England by an innings and 159 runs.
It was India’s first defeat by an innings under captain Kohli as the famed Indian batting failed twice at Lord’s to go down 0-2 in the five-match series.
They had lost the first Test at Edgbaston by 31 runs.
“England are arguably the best in the world in these conditions but the real eye has to be on India – they have to be wary of the wheels completely falling off,” Hussain told Sky Sports Cricket looking ahead to Saturdays third Test at Trent Bridge.
“India are No 1 in the world and it was meant to be a gun, tight series but at the moment it is men against boys. Their curve is going in the wrong direction.”
India have been bundled out for 162, 107 and 130 in their last three innings.
“They were in the game for a long time last Test (at Edgbaston) but the back injury to Kohli is a concern, the fingers of (Ravichandran) Ashwin took a blow, the rest of their batting line-up continues to fail and there are no practice games in between.”
Hussain warned that there will be no let-up from the English side at Trent Bridge, venue for the third Test.
“They have got to dig really deep – there are some really good cricketers in that dressing room and they have to come out fighting.”
“I don’t think it will be as tough as this – they can draw on the fact its been as hard as it can be – but Trent Bridge does a bit. (James) Anderson will be a threat, (Stuart) Broad got 8-15 there against Australia – these England players have fond memories, so it wont get that much easier.”
He said England will be keen to give it back after losing 4-0 in 2016 in India.
“This is payback time a little bit for England after losing 4-0 in India and I don’t see them letting up. I have seen that they are a hungry team. They wont rest on their laurels, they want to get better and better.”
