India lacked mental strength to fight: Vaughan

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Press Trust of India London
Last Updated : Aug 10 2014 | 10:35 AM IST
A pathetic India paid the price for focussing more on James Anderson incident than on their game, former captain Michael Vaughan said while British media termed India's capitulation in the fourth Test as "spineless".
Former England skipper Vaughan said "India were simply embarrassing" as they did not have the mental strength or character to fight under pressure.
"They have been brought up facing orthodox off spin but they made it look as though Moeen Ali was bowling hand grenades and folded abysmally. They just gave up under pressure, they threw in the towel. For the past two weeks it looks to me as if India have been fighting too many battles off the pitch and have forgotten to fight on it," Vaughan wrote in his coloumn for 'Daily Telegraph'.
"They got embroiled in the James Anderson case and were so bent on getting him banned that they took their eye off the cricket. England did not produce magic deliveries; it was poor batting, with India lacking the mental strength or character to fight through the situation."
The ICC appointed Judicial Commissioner had found Anderson not guilty in the 'pushgate' incident.
Vaughan said Virat Kohli's failure has hurt India badly.
"India are battling many problems now. Look at Virat Kohli. His technique is all over the place. James Anderson has bowled 30 balls at him, he has scored seven runs and lost his wicket four times. That is remarkable. It is not easy being touted as the next Sachin Tendulkar. Clearly for him to become a world-renowned player he has to score more runs overseas, but I have been amazed at how fragile he looks going to the crease.
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First Published: Aug 10 2014 | 10:35 AM IST

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