Cricketer-turned-expert Monty Panesar stated that India has got a great chance to win the fourth Manchester Test against England and level the ongoing five-match Test series 2-2. To be fair to the expert's opinion, he is not entirely wrong, as the visitors have been the better side for the majority of the three Tests played so far. However, the closing stages are where the Shubman Gill-led side has faltered. In the Lord's Test, they also dominated, only to squander the golden opportunity to take a 2-1 lead.
Panesar said that India should focus on using the Old Trafford pitch to their advantage and said the pitch is expected to offer equal assistance to batters and bowlers. Spinners, which have not found much success in the three Tests so far, will also have a good opportunity to showcase their prowess.
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“I think India's got a very good chance of doing well in the next Test match. The pitch will have everything to offer, but it's about application and if they can do that, they will have a good chance of winning,” Panesar said as quoted by NDTV Sports.
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Manchester will be the fastest pitch of the series so far: Panesar
The former England captain further stated that the Manchester pitch will be the fastest pitch used in the series so far, and if the bowlers err in their line and length, then they will get punished.
“It's going to be a good batting and bowling wicket, with the spinners getting something later on. There will be everything on offer for everyone. If you bowl badly, you'll be punished. While batting, there will be pace and bounce; it will be the fastest pitch of the series so far. The bowlers will have to work hard to take wickets, and the batters will not be able to play loose shots and get away with it,” Panesar added.
However, India's record in Manchester is not that good, as they have not won a single Test at this venue in nine Tests so far. The last time they played here, they suffered a heavy defeat by an innings & 54 runs in 2014. Panesar, who registered the best bowling figures at Old Trafford in 2017, reflected on the mindset that helped him shine brightest on the biggest stages.
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"While playing for England, the key was the processes. I focused on my preparation and processes, which helped me handle the pressure. It would have been a lot harder had I been focusing on the outcome,” Panesar said.
"It was tough, we had to be resilient and mentally strong. That is what is most important, and everything else falls into place. Take the importance out of the equation; the bigger the occasion, the less important it is in the mindset, so you can perform at your best. I tend to perform better when stakes are higher; I used to enjoy bowling against the best batters in the world,” he concluded.
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