Indian players enjoy a game of football, England hone their catching skills ahead of Southampton Test

The Indian team made most of the break between the third Test in Nottingham and the approaching fourth Test in Southampton. With a gap of eight days in between the two games, the players spent time in London away from the game and even went for an English Premier League (EPL) match on Saturday (August 25).

The football fans in the team KL Rahul along with pacers Umesh Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah went to the Emirates Stadium to witness the Arsenal vs West Ham match. It was Arsenal that came back in the contest after conceding a goal to strike thrice and claim victory over West Ham.

After a fun weekend, it is time for business as Virat Kohli’s team travelled to Southampton on August 27, Monday three days ahead of the fourth match at the Ages Bowl. While the Indians were away from the game mentally recovering after an exhausting three weeks of taxing Test cricket the hosts preferred to hone their catching skills.

It was England’s catching that let them down at Trent Bridge as much as their batting. Thus far in the series, the English fielders have grassed 15 catches and the Indian skipper Kohli who is also the leading run-scorer in the series with 440 runs has been gifted a life four times. India on the other hand, have maintained a tighter record dropping only four.

Opener KL Rahul was sort of a star in the 3rd Test as he held onto everything that came his way at second slip. He took seven catches in the match to give the bowlers best possible backing from behind the stumps.

All English fielders have spilled chances

England have tried quite a few options for the cordon, from Dawid Malan to Keaton Jennings, Jos Buttler, Ollie Pope and Alastair Cook, they’ve all dropped crucial chances. Though the team won the first two matches and hold a lead in the series, it is certainly starting to become a problem as the Indian batsmen get a grip of their game.

Team India made a remarkable comeback at Trent Bridge to almost stun England who weren’t expecting such a fighting response. Kohli’s men won the match and now the series scoreline reads 2-1 and the momentum has certainly swung India’s way.

Jadeja, Cook and Southampton

This Indian team certainly doesn’t carry the baggage from the past but they will remember the one moment that changed the course of the Ages Bowl Test match last time. Ravindra Jadeja had dropped Cook on 15 off the bowling of Pankaj Singh and the then skipper added 80 more runs in his knock. England at the end of their innings had 569 runs on the board and won the Test match to square the series 1-1 after going down at Lord’s.

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