12/12/2012

India v England: Alastair Cook expecting Nagpur backlash


England captain Alastair Cook says he expects a revived India in Thursday's final Test in Nagpur after the hosts' heavy losses in the last two matches.
England won by 10 and seven wickets respectively in Mumbai and Kolkata to lead 2-1 and move within sight of a first series win in India since 1985.
"There is every chance it might galvanise them so complacency is not going to be in our camp," said Cook.
"I am sure they will be coming out fighting in these next few days."
Successive home defeats have led to calls for India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and record Test run-maker Sachin Tendulkar, who average 18.4 and 22 each so far in the series, to be dropped.


Both have retained their places in the squad for the fourth Test however, with Zaheer Khan, Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh omitted instead.
Cook, who has scored centuries in each of the three Tests so far, has told his team not to presume that a third comfortable victory will be forthcoming.
"We have got ourselves in a really good position but now we are starting a new game and everything has to start afresh," he said.
"We have played some really good cricket but it has taken a monumental effort to do that, a lot of toughness to play in these conditions as a side.
"I'm pleased we have shown that and have to ask the guys to do this again this week."
Should England avoid defeat it will be a first series win in India since David Gower skippered the side to a 2-1 win.
They will have to do so without vice-captain Stuart Broad, whose slim chances of a recall after being left out of the third Test have been ended by a bruised heel.
England's seam attack may also be deprived of Steven Finn who faces a fitness test on a disc strain in his back.

- BBC.co.uk

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