England were “a little bit on the back foot” last year, according to India’s coach Rahul Dravid, but are “playing really terrific cricket” at the moment which can be seen in their recent Test series against New Zealand.
A Test match nearly a year after it was scheduled, the series on the line, two different-looking squads with new captains and coaches, and World Test Championship points on the line: Rahul Dravid, India’s head coach, is looking forward to it all.
Dravid comments on India’s final Test against England
The final Test of the five-match series, which India leads 2-1, will be played in Edgbaston starting July 1 after being suddenly halted last year at Old Trafford.
Given the changes in the two lineups, as well as England’s recent 2-0 series success against Test champions New Zealand, the English side are high on confidence.
With one match remaining – the Indian head coach Rahul Dravid believes the series dynamics will be different.
“In terms of the Test match, it is obviously going to be exciting,”
Dravid said on Sunday in Bengaluru.
He added saying “For us, it is a one-off Test match, but it’s WTC points. It’s a series on the line for the guys who played a part in it [last year]. While England were “a little bit on the back foot” last year, according to India’s coach, but are “playing really terrific cricket” at the moment.
“It is always lovely a Test match in England; the crowds are going to be fantastic. You expect really good crowds in England when you play Test cricket there.”
While the India squad arrived in England last week, with the exception of players who played in the T20Is against South Africa. And now, Under the guidance of Dravid, team India will begin a four-day warm-up in Leicestershire on Thursday.
In comparison to last year, when Ravi Shastri was the coach, Virat Kohli was the captain, and Ajinkya Rahane was the vice-captain. And now, Dravid is the new coach, Rohit Sharma is the new captain, and KL Rahul is the vice-captain, albeit his fitness for the Test is in doubt.
England, too, has a new management in captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum. Moreover, the English side will be coming off a five-wicket triumph against New Zealand at Trent Bridge. The highlight of which was their ambitious chase of 299 at nearly six an over on the last day.
