In the midst of the England-India Test series, former South Africa captain Graeme Smith expressed reservations about England’s ability to stage a comeback after India took a 2-1 lead. While acknowledging England’s bold strategy in Indian conditions, Smith cautioned them about potential fatigue as the series progresses.

Despite an initial triumph with a 28-run victory in Hyderabad, England faced setbacks with consecutive losses in Vizag and Rajkot. India’s commanding performance in the Rajkot Test, securing a 434-run victory, marked their largest-ever Test win by the margin of runs. England’s struggle, particularly being dismissed for a mere 122 runs in the fourth innings, indicated significant challenges ahead for the visiting team.

Smith shared his insights in a column for Insider, acknowledging England’s positive approach in India but warning about the physical toll of toiling against India in challenging conditions. He highlighted the importance of staying mentally fresh, positive, and within the game plan throughout the extended series.

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“It’s a very long tour, and toiling against India like you have to, with long days in the field combined with the heat, can wear you down towards the back end of a series. Staying mentally fresh, positive, and within your gameplan is important. England have done that well so far and need to hang tough for as long as possible, because if India get their noses ahead, then they’ll be very difficult to chase down,” he remarked.

Smith underscored the significance of winning away series to establish a team’s strength and greatness. He pointed out the challenges faced while playing in foreign conditions and emphasized the need for modern teams to emulate the success of historical teams like West Indies and Australia, which dominated globally, proving their capabilities across diverse conditions.

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“Being able to win away from home is the differentiator between a good team and a great team. There’s no greater challenge than travelling into someone else’s backyard for a few months at a time with their crowds, their media, and their conditions, and proving that you have the team and the capabilities to compete there and win over an extended period,” Graeme Smith concluded.