Farokh Engineer believes the big test for team India will be in England

Former Indian cricketer Farokh Engineer feels that the real test for the Indian cricket team will be during the England tour next year. Team India is having a dream run in world cricket at the moment. They have escalated to the top of the ICC Test rankings and had recently whitewashed the Sri Lankan side in all the three formats of the game.

Engineer mentioned that the team has a very good core group. Also, the players have had a decent success rate. However, they are yet to be tested in the overseas conditions. As per the quotes in Sportstar, e rightly mentioned that the true test for the Virat Kohli-led side will be during the 5-match Test series against England next year.

“The present Indian team are very good indeed. Virat Kohli is an excellent captain, MS Dhoni is looking fitter than ever, Ravichandran Ashwin is one of the great off-spinners, (Ravi) Jadeja, we’ve got a very good team, Murali Vijay, the opening batsman,” quoted Farokh Engineer.

“They have been scoring a lot of runs against Sri Lanka, but the true test will be when they come to England. Don’t get carried away by the performance against Sri Lanka, against Australia we are doing pretty well, but that’s in India again,” he added.

England – Ideal testing ground

Speaking on the same note, he further reiterated that England is ideally the perfect testing ground for any visiting team. The conditions in England test the technique to the fullest potential. Any player who wishes to find success in the English conditions must have a very sound technique.

“India’s real test comes when they go abroad, especially England. England is the true test for any cricketer and Indian cricketers are no exception. You need a real sound technique to play in England where the ball moves about a lot more, both in the air and off the pitch. Your technique is really stretched to the limit – it sorts the men out from the boys,” remarked the former cricketer.

Recalling the big moment

The former Indian batsman further recalled the iconic 1971 Test against England. Team India had stunned the hosts in the game and it was arguably the beginning of a new phase for the Indian cricket team. He funnily narrated the incident when he batted with Abid Ali. It was the first ever Test win for India in England.

“Yes indeed 1971 in England was a great moment. I got runs in both innings (59 and 28 not out) and dismissals as well, but a guy called Abid Ali came in and took all the limelight! We had four runs to get I think.. said to him: ‘Abid, after you there’s only Bishen Bedi and (Bhagwat) Chandrasekhar and with due respect they don’t know which side of the bat to hold’,” recalled Farokh Engineer.

“He said: “OK, OK”. What does he do first ball? He just charges down the pitch – I think Alan Knott missed a reasonably easy stumping. We needed three runs because I took a single and regretted it. o what does he do now? He charges down the wicket, gets a top edge, four over the slips, and the next thing I see he’s being carried off by people for a not-out four – and I’ve stuck in there! But it was a great moment, a sweet victory for India because India had never before won a Test match in England,” conceded Engineer.