England off-spinner Graeme Swann expects Indian backlash in final Test
Graeme Swann, the England off-spinner, has urged his teammates to be cautious for the fourth and final Test in Nagpur, starting from Thursday, as he expects that wounded after back-to-back defeats, India could bounce back to level the series.
England, who handed massive defeats to hosts in Mumbai and Kolkata, is leading the series 2-1 and have a golden chance to win a Test series in India for the first in nearly 30 years. But Swann warned that with India’s eight year unbeaten run a stake, they will not capitulate meekly unlike the last two Tests.
“It is tough, but sometimes it’s a good position to be in,” said Graeme Swann, who is expected to play a pivotal alongside Monty Panesar on yet another turning track. “If there’s only one possible result you can get, you can go all out fighting. The last Test of a series, if you know the result hangs on it, is normally a very exciting one.”
With victory the only option, India have axed the underperforming seamer Zaheer Khan and all-rounder Yuvraj Singh for series-decider to induce young blood.
“I’m sure India will come out fighting because they have to win the game,” Swann said. “Equally so, I’m sure we’ll approach the game thinking attack is our best form of defence. I think that’s what has proved crucial in the last couple of games.”
England registered the victories in second and third Test on the tracks which were starkly different from each other. What will be the nature of Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium track is not yet clear but Graeme Swann said whatever it is, they will try conclude the series on victory.
“We obviously want to get home for Christmas having won this series 3-1. Whatever the pitch is we’ve got to try and win the game, that’s all we ever try and do,” he said.
