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This article was first published 10 years ago

What England must work on to clinch the Test series vs India

Last updated on: August 12, 2014 20:10 IST

Image: Sam Robson of England leaves the field after being dismissed by Bhuvneshwar Kumar during Day 1 of the fourth Test
Photographs: Gareth Copley/Getty Images

Like all other Englishmen, Geoffrey Boycott is also delighted with England's terrific turnaround in the ongoing series against India.

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Boycott lauded England's terrific performance in the fourth Test, at Old Trafford, which the home team won by an innings and 54 runs inside three days to take a 2-1 lead in the series and turn their fortunes around after the disaster at Lord's.

He, however, reckons that there are areas where Alastair Cook's side must improve.

"It has been a terrific performance by England to turn it all around after the disaster at Lord's. Although we want to enjoy the team's success and believe England have turned the corner we should sound a note of caution because there are three areas they need to improve," Boycott wrote in his column for The Daily Telegraph.

"They have to look at the quality of their back-up seam bowlers, address the weaknesses of opening batsman Sam Robson and all our batsmen have to improve against the short ball,” he added.

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What England must work on to clinch the Test series vs India

Image: Chris Woakes successfully appeals for the wicket of Murali Vijay
Photographs: Gareth Copley/Getty Images

While Boycott is not impressed with back-up seamers Chris Woakes and Chris Jordan, he also questioned opener Robson's place in the team.

"While James Anderson and Stuart Broad are match winners, at the moment if both of them ever get injured or are out at the same time for any reason, England’s seam bowling does not look threatening," he wrote.

"When England's back-up seamers -- Chris Woakes and Chris Jordan -- were bowling at Old Trafford there was a huge difference in quality, aggression and control. There was a release of pressure on the opposition batsmen," he said.

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What England must work on to clinch the Test series vs India

Image: Stuart Broad shows his broken nose
Photographs: Stuart Broad on Twitter

Going on to Robson’s inexperience, Boycott wrote, "His (Robson's) judgment on what to play and what to leave around off-stump is suspect. He gets out caught in the slip cordon or playing no stroke. The better the new ball bowler, the more balls he will put in the corridor of uncertainty at pace," said Boycott.

"My final point is this. Broad hooking and getting smashed on the nose highlighted the whole team's problem against the short ball. Even before he got hit he pulled the two previous balls for six but was not in control of either shot. A number of our players have a big problem and will not accept it," he added.

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