England face uphill task in third test

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MUMBAI: England will fight against all the odds to prevent a second straight series defeat when they face India in the third and final test starting on Saturday. The injury-depleted tourists crashed to a nine-wicket loss in the second test in Mohali on Monday after forcing a gritty draw in the first game in Nagpur. Leg-spinner Anil Kumble triggered a batting collapse to claim nine wickets and set up the victory along with debutant paceman Munaf Patel, who grabbed seven. Andrew Flintoff, leading in the absence of injured skipper Michael Vaughan, said after the defeat that his young side would fight to avoid a repeat of the 2-0 series loss in Pakistan. Should India protect or build on their lead, England will lose second place in the ICC test rankings and slip to third behind Australia and India. The key to England's success will depend largely on how their faltering top-order handles pressure. Poor starts The tourists have failed to get off to a good start in the series, barring the second innings of the first test where opening batsman Alastair Cook's century on debut and Kevin Pietersen's domineering 87 helped the team take control of the proceedings. England were reduced 180 for five in the first innings of the second test before Flintoff and Geraint Jones helped stage a mini recovery with well-made half centuries.