Tuesday 15 July 2014 20:07, UK
Gary Ballance is looking for England to ‘put wrongs right’ as they seek to end a nine-match winless streak in the second Investec Test at Lord's this week.
In that run, England have recently been hampered by the loss of six wickets for 68 at Trent Bridge, and five for 18 against Sri Lanka in Leeds.
Ballance acknowledges Alastair Cook’s side must address their fragility, and cites Joe Root and James Anderson's world-record last-wicket stand in Nottingham as a possible turning point for the hosts.
"Yes, we had one (a collapse) at Headingley and then one again at Trent Bridge," he said. "We know we've got to put that right. We're not going to hide away from that.
"Rooty and Jimmy dug us out of that hole. I hope we can learn from that and put those wrongs right in this game.
"We had that bad session at Trent Bridge. But the way those two fought was unbelievable."
England, and Cook, have come to a critical point - the captain with only 97 runs in seven attempts this year and no century in his last 25 innings, while his team have badly misplaced the winning habit.
Ballance added: "Obviously we are looking for a win quite badly ... we can take confidence from that fifth morning (at Trent Bridge) and try to build on it here.
"Giving ourselves a chance on a flat wicket, the lads came out of it feeling very confident.
"Let's just hope that over the next few games we can put in a good team batting performance which will get us a big score and really put pressure on India."
It would be nice to kick on and get a really big score, a match-winning one to try to get us a win for England and get us going for the summer.
While Ballance has so far contributed two half-centuries as well as his first hundred in only four Tests, he is looking to kick on.
He added: "I feel like I have brought some good form in, and a few decent scores.
"It would be nice to kick on and get a really big score, a match-winning one to try to get us a win for England and get us going for the summer."
He is also confident Cook will soon be back to his prolific best, adding: "Every cricketer has been through a bad patch.
"You can't hide away; you've got to be positive. I thought he captained brilliantly in that (last) game, and nearly got a win."
"Some (dips in form) take longer than others....there are plenty of coaches and other players who will support you.
"Cooky is very positive and upbeat, and you saw how he is enjoying his cricket when he had a bowl at Trent Bridge.
"I'm sure it's only a matter of time before he gets that score."
