Former England spinner Monty Panesar believes India have a strong chance of winning the fourth Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy if they stick to the basics and make smart use of the pitch conditions at Old Trafford. India trail 1-2 in the five-match series after a narrow 22-run loss at Lord’s and will be looking to level things when the teams meet in Manchester.The 43-year-old recently spoke about how the pitch is likely to behave and what both teams can expect from it. “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 told IANS. India have played nine Tests at Old Trafford so far, losing four and drawing five. Their last visit came in 2014 under MS Dhoni, which ended in a heavy defeat by an innings and 54 runs.
Panesar, who has plenty of experience at the venue, said the surface will be challenging for both batters and bowlers. However, he made sure to give the Indian bowling attack a firm warning ahead of the crucial 4th Test. “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,” he explained. The 43-year-old, who played 50 Tests for England, recorded his best figures (10 for 187) at Old Trafford against the West Indies in 2017. Panesar also shared his approach to high-pressure situations during his playing career.
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Do you think India can win the fourth Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy?
“While playing for England, the key was the processes. I focused on my preparation and processes, it helped me handle the pressure. It would have been a lot harder had I been focusing on the outcome.” “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, 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,” recalled Panesar.
