05 November,2016 01:43 PM IST | | Aakash Chopra
India will be on a high after winning the last four series, which includes two away series. On the other hand, England just suffered their first ever Test loss to Bangladesh and even the Test they managed to win wasn't without a lot of drama
England's Alastair Cook (left) and Joe Root walk off the field after a training session at the Cricket Club of India in Mumbai yesterday. Pic/Atul Kamble
On Wednesday India will be locking horns against England in a five-test series. India will be on a high after winning the last four series, which includes two away series. On the other hand, England has just suffered their first ever Test loss to Bangladesh and even the Test they managed to win wasn't without a lot of drama. Their tour to Bangladesh can be seen in two different ways, for it could've either dented their confidence completely or could've possibly prepared them for the. Other challenges. Since their failure in Bangladesh was about the skill and not the will, it's only fair to assume that they might find it tougher in India.
Indian Test team is in a happy space
Even though Kohli's team is a young side, it has already started working like a well-oiled machine. Batting has started blossoming as a unit with different players assuming key roles at different times. Batting in Tests is all about battling the tough sessions and all good teams find different heroes in these difficult times, and India is no different in this respect. Murali Vijay in Brisbane, Rahane in Lord's, Pujara in Colombo, Kohli in Melbourne and Saha in Kolkata--everyone has stood up at different times and that shows team's character. Since this series is in India, bowling is the least of India's concern with Ashwin quite nonchalantly donning the role of a leader. On turning pitches, bowlers who bring the ball back in are more lethal because they expose both the edges and Ashwin has exposed the technical frailties of modern batsman like never before. Jadeja's accuracy has been an ideal foil to Ashwin's craft and in addition to this, the faster bowlers have also made their presence felt.
England has given batting depth a new meaning
Test cricket was always considered to be a format for specialists. Most teams would play 5-6 proper batsmen, a proper wicketkeeper and four bowlers. Teams that did better than the rest always had a batsman in the top six who could bowl 15-20 overs a day and their wicketkeeper almost always contributed with the bat. But this England side is different, for they bat as deep as number 9 without compromising on their bowling prowess. The likes of Woakes, Mooen Ali, Stokes, Bairstow and even Rashid can pull their weight in the side with just the bat, and it practically means that England doesn't have a tail. To counter this strength, it won't be a bad idea for India to offer pitches with some more turn available from the first day itself and also, consider playing an extra bowler in Mishra.
Spin to Win
While England has an enviable batting line-up, it's unlikely to have a telling impact on the series. Test matches are won by teams that have the bowling to take twenty wickets on a regular basis and that's where India's superior bowling attack scores over the visitors. Indian batsmen are likely to play spin better than their English counterparts but even if that's not the case, Indian bowlers are likely to tilt the contest in India's favour every single time. Bowling on turning pitches is an art that needs mastering. While there's a lot of help available, the margin for error is equally small, for the extra spin provides scoring opportunities if the bowler erred in line and more importantly, the length. Rashid, Moeen and Batty are decent spinners but it would be criminal to consider them in the same league of Ashwin, Jadeja and Mishra.
Injury concerns for India?
If it were an overseas tour, the absence of Rohit, Rahul, Dhawan and Bhuvneshwar would've troubled India but since it's a home series, the loss isn't as damaging. While Rahul's presence at the top and Rohit lower down the order would've given both solidity and depth to the batting order, there's no reason for the alarm bells to start running just yet. Gambhir is in fine nick and Karun Nair could be tested at 6 if India chooses to play with 6 batsmen. In fact, it can also be viewed as an opportunity to toy with a slightly different combination. With Saha and Ashwin doing a stellar job with the bat, India could very well play all three spinners, if they wish. As long as India's spin-trio is fit, Kohli will not have sleepless nights over the injury concerns.
