The Stage is Set

India’s victory has put matters in perspective and certainly put the onus back on South Africa who in turn will attempt to do an India on Australia. That task for South Africa though is not quite as easy it appears for India who appear to have England sorted out and stand on the threshold of trading places once more with South Africa this year.

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That last part of that statement may seem a little unfair for England who dominated more than a few sections in the first Test at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai to actually set themselves with a realistic chance for victory. It was another matter than India snatched it away in comprehensive fashion, unmindful that history suggested it could not be done.

But the fact of the matter remains that India have a far more superior arsenal than England and their weapons have been sharpened using the Australia as the sounding board. In light of that, India’s prowess, even with changes brought on by the retirements of Sourav Ganguly and V.V.S. Laxman, has not suffered yet from the absence of names that have been around for the better part of a decade and more.

England, on the contrary, appear strangely bereft of the ability to push forth when it mattered most. They suffered from it during the one day internationals where they failed to push on and in the context of the first Test, appeared clueless about how to go about using one’s bowlers even after Virender Sehwag was dismissed. India though walked all over England, even though the visitors had set up the game nicely for themselves.

But that England even ventured to come back after being scared out of their wits deserved credit as does the fact that they, undeterred by the 5-0 thrashing in the one day internationals, actually showed more chutzpah than was expected of a team expected to be walk overs as far as team India were concerned.

India then go into the Mohali test with their confidence sky high on the back of a record breaking feat in Chennai and fully aware of the jail they really stuck themselves into and of the brilliance that bailed them out.

For Kevin Pietersen and Peter Moores, the task becomes trickier with just three Tests in between to banish those images of the euphoric Indian victory, of the fact that they lost the Test they were expected to draw, if not win outright, and also, get over the fact that they seemed to have lost their way and plot after getting into a winning position.

Pietersen’s fractured rib will perhaps put additional strain on him as also the criticism on Monty Panesar being less effective than even newcomer Graeme Swann which will certainly complicate matters for England who will be in two minds on whether to stick to their two spinner theory or go with their tried and test battery of pace.

With India flying high, not only is the onus upon England to do something out of the ordinary to square the series, but also, South Africa are left with no choice but to ensure a 3-0 whitewash over Australia to ensure they can truly strike a chord to get to the top.

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