MUMBAI: With the draw in the fourth Test at Nagpur, Alastair Cook and Co. achieved what David Gower and his troops did in 1984-85. A rare series triumph in India. As England get ready to celebrate Christmas with more fervour and India have more reason to look into the mirror and face some harsh truths, it's worth pointing out some similarities between the two triumphs.
Left-handed captains: The 1984-85 team was led by David Gower, a left-handed batsman. Alastair Cook, also a southpaw, led the 2012 side.
Similar victory margins: Gower and his boys got over the line 2-1 much like Captain Cook and his team.
Come from behind heroics: Gower's team was badly beaten by eight wickets in the first Test at Mumbai's Wankhede stadium, but thanks to Mike Gatting's maiden Test century (136) in the second innings, England started their fightback and he showed that Indian spinners can be countered if one is determined and sensible. Gatting was given company by wicket-keeper batsman Paul Downton who slammed 62. Cook too scored a fighting century in the second innings in the defeat at Ahmedabad making 176 and showed the other teammates the way. His partner-in-crime was Matt Prior who scored 91. That fightback kick-started the revival and instilled the spirit in the side. The 1984 England side became the first side to win in India despite losing the first Test. Cook and co have emulated the feats of that outfit.
Spin-twins: In 1984-85, England were blessed with talented spin twins in the form of left-arm-spinner Phil Edmonds and off-spinner Pat Pocock. Cook had the services of similar bowlers in the form of Monty Panesar and Graeme Swann.
Problems with personnel: In 1984-85, some of the England team-members had issues with Phil Edmonds and the ECB had even told the think-tank that they would not select the left-arm-spinner. But David Gower insisted that he can handle the spinner and make him tow the team's philosophy. It proved to be a masterstroke as Edmonds played a vital role in the team's victory. Similarly, the ECB had initially dropped talismanic star Kevin Pietersen from the touring party, but on Cook insisted that Pietersen can be a match-winner and handling him on the tour is his job. It proved to be a crucial decision as KP blasted a memorable 186 to turn the second Test in Mumbai and the momentum decisively England's way.
Seams like a dream: David Gower's side had talented and match-winning fast bowlers like Neil Foster and Richard Ellison. Foster played a critical role in Chennai picking 11 wickets to star in the team's crushing nine-wicket victory, which helped the team win the series. Cook, meanwhile had the services of James Anderson and Steve Finn. On a flat pitch in Kolkata, Anderson picked up six wickets in the game and snared four crucial wickets in Nagpur to help England control the game.
Rifts in the Indian team: The current Indian team has been battling rumours of a rift between MS Dhoni, Virender Sehwag and some of the other senior players. Sunil Gavaskar led the Indian team that lost in the 1984-85 series and he and the vice-captain Kapil Dev were clearly not on the same page. So incensed was Gavaskar after Kapil's manner of dismissal in the Kotla Test that he asked the selectors to drop him from the next match at the Eden Gardens. Incidentally, that Test match is the only one that Kapil missed in his career spanning 131 Tests.
Rise of an Indian star: Despite the loss against England in 1984-85, there was a silver lining for India in the form of Mohd Azharuddin who smashed three hundreds in his first three Tests. In the just concluded series, India saw the rise of Cheteshwar Pujara.
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