The Indians lacked self-belief and failed to sustain the intensity

Both the batting and famed bowling have faltered in the decisive second innings in the last three away Tests; Dravid has enough issues on his plate

A marauding England rocketing to a demanding target of 378 at Edgbaston sent all the wrong signals from an Indian perspective.

At the start of the final day, the host still needed 119 runs. Couple of early wickets and the England batting could have imploded.

But the Indian bowling was so innocuous and the players’ body language so flat that it was clear the side lacked the belief, the key attribute in any professional sport.

Test cricket is all about maintaining intensity over five days. Here physical attributes intertwine with mental strength.

India’s last three Tests on foreign soil have seen the side taking its foot off the gas, unable to retain its intensity levels.

India has failed in the big decisive moments. Both the batting and famed bowling have faltered in the decisive second innings.

India was full of beans entering the second Test at Wanderers early this year after winning the first to raise visions of a first ever Test-series triumph in South Africa.