Graeme Smith gives Bazballing England heads-up ahead of Ranchi Test

In light of the ongoing five-match Test series between England and India, former South African captain Graeme Smith expressed scepticism about England's chances of bouncing back after India claimed a 2-1 lead. Smith acknowledged England's bold approach in Indian conditions but cautioned them about potential fatigue as the series progresses. 

England initially triumphed with a 28-run victory in Hyderabad but faced setbacks with consecutive losses in Vizag and Rajkot. India's dominant performance in the Rajkot Test, which they won by 434 runs, marked their largest-ever Test victory by margin of runs. England's struggle, especially being dismissed for a mere 122 runs in the fourth innings, signalled significant challenges ahead for the visiting team.

"There’s always been a lot of talent, but they seem to have taken away the fear, provided a lot of security for people and look at the game in a really positive way. England are certainly sticking true to the way that they want to play in India by applying pressure on the opposition and making them think," Smith penned his thoughts in a column for Betway Insider.

"It’s a very long tour and toiling against India like you have to, with long days in the field combined with the heat, can wear you down towards the back-end of a series. Staying mentally fresh, positive, and within your gameplan is important. England have done that well so far and need to hang tough for as long as possible, because if India get their noses ahead, then they’ll be very difficult to chase down," he added. 

Also Read: "Jaiswal hasn’t learned from you, he has learned from his upbringing" - Nasser Hussain hits back at Ben Duckett

"Being able to win away from home is the differentiator": Smith

Former South African opener Graeme Smith stressed the significance of winning away series to establish a team's strength. He highlighted the inherent challenges encountered while playing in foreign conditions. He also pointed out that teams like the West Indies and Australia didn't just dominate at home but also excelled in diverse conditions during their prime. He emphasised the need for modern teams to emulate such success beyond their home turfs to cement their reputation as formidable contenders.

"Being able to win away from home is the differentiator between a good team and a great team. There’s no greater challenge than travelling into someone else’s backyard for a few months at a time with their crowds, their media, and their conditions, and proving that you have the team and the capabilities to compete there and win over an extended period. That’s something that we saw with the great West Indies side of the 1970s and 80s, and the great Australia side of the 1990s and 2000s, they really did dominate around the world," he concluded.