Is the Oval Test a disaster waiting to happen for Team India?

#6 Reasons for Team India’s poor performance at the Oval

The Oval wicket

A) The nature of the Oval wicket

The Oval wicket is the one wicket in England which somewhat resembles the wickets in India. Traditionally the Oval wicket is a slow and low wicket assisting the spinners though its nature has changed over a period of time. The teams from Asia are made to believe at home at the Oval. At times, it gives them a false sense of security and the players are taken by surprise when the going gets tough.

B) Schedule of the Oval Test matches in the Tour itinerary

The Oval always hosts the last Test match of a series, be it a three-match series or a five-match series. By the time visiting teams like India reach the Oval, the players are mentally and physically drained. The players’ mind will be on the flight back home.

By the time a Test match starts at the Oval, the series would have been lost and injury problems would have cropped up, fatigue would have set in and the players would be in no mental frame of mind to give their best.

All these factors played an important role in India's overall poor performance at the Oval.