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Home > Cricket > England's tour of India > Report


England hopeful of a comeback

Harish Kotian in Goa | April 02, 2006 20:24 IST

England [Images] batsman Paul Collingwood [Images] believes that his team will need to dominate a bit more to turn things around and make a comeback in the series.

England are trailing 0-2 in the series after losing in New Delhi and Faridabad, but Collingwood believes that they can reverse the losing trend, like they did in the previous one-day international series in India in 2001-02.

"We are not down and out yet. We were 3-1 down the last time and managed to take it to three-all and we have the skill to do the same again," Collingwood told reporters at the Nehru Stadium at Fatorda on Sunday.

The England all-rounder said the team is still in high spirit, despite losing the first two matches after being on top.

"It is disappointing to lose the last one-dayer after being in a strong position, but we are still positive. There were passages of play [in first two one-dayers] where we dominated and we must try and transform that to a win," he added.

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England's batsmen failed in the first match in Delhi, when they stumbled chasing an easy target of 204. In the second match, India were able to recover from 92 for 5 to register a five-wicket victory courtesy of Suresh Raina's brilliant knock of 81 not out.

Collingwood feels that skill wise they are on par with the Indians, but it was the mental factor that is making the difference.

"I think it is probably the mental side of it rather than any thing else. We got the skills and personnel, we have to take that a little bit further and elevate it," said Collingwood.

He expects the Fatorda pitch to help batsmen, unlike the ones seen in the series so far.

"The first pitch was seamer-friendly and the second one assisted the spinners. This one looks batter-friendly, looks a pretty flat pitch," he said about the newly-laid Fatorda wicket.

Meanwhile, England coach Duncan Fletcher flew back to South Africa to accompany his sick wife Marina. He is expected to return back to Goa [Images] before the start of the third one-day international on Monday.

England assistant coach Matthew Maynard took charge of the team's training session at the Nehru Stadium on Sunday.


Englands's tour of India: The Complete Coverage

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