India look to turn new page in Eng
9 July 2014 5:41 AM IST
Devoid of experience but propped up by a confident bunch of youngsters, India would be looking to wipe off the past scars and reverse their poor overseas record when they take on England in a five-Test series starting here on Wednesday. It is a great opportunity for a young visiting side as they play five back-to-back Tests in this hectic 42-day series. The next four Tests will be played at London (Lord’s), Southampton, Manchester and London again (The Oval).
Under MS Dhoni, India’s last overseas Test win had come against the West Indies at Kingston in June 2011. Since then they have gone on to lose 0-8 in two tours to England and Australia. A new overseas journey began in the 2013-14 season, which saw them play four overseas Tests in South Africa and New Zealand. But they couldn’t get back to winning ways, losing two and drawing two matches. That, however, isn’t the only fact hurting Indian cricket. Their Test form against England has really seen a downward curve in the last two encounters as after the 0-4 embarrassment, they suffered a humiliating 1-2 loss at home in the 2012-13 season. It was the first series win for England in India since 1984-85, one that marked their ascendancy in modern-day Test cricket.
However, things have changed a lot for the hosts since then. Their current Test squad bears a dissimilar look to the ones that dismantled India with such ease in their last two meetings. Cricketers who really shone in those encounters are either suffering from poor form or fatigue, Alastair Cook, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, while some, Kevin Pietersen, Graeme Swann, Jonathan Trott, have vanished from the scene altogether. The combination of Anderson and Swann (with ample support from Broad, Tim Bresnan and Monty Panesar at different times) proved lethal for India on both the previous occasions.
Whether away or at home, there was no respite for their batsmen as quality pace and swing backed up by some sensational spin bowling caused havoc in their ranks. The duo accounted for 34 out of 79 Indian wickets to fall in the summer of 2011, while their tally went up to 32 out of 55 dismissals in the winter of 2012-13. Swann’s absence is hurting England because they now have to play an additional seam bowler while off-setting the spin duties to Moeen Ali, a move that hasn’t invoked much confidence. In their last two meetings, Cook buried the Indian bowling under an avalanche of runs -- 910 runs in eight Tests (14 innings). While he searches for runs at the present moment, his captaincy has suffered and he has come under severe criticism from many quarters, a point of possible exploitation for Dhoni and his men. With Trott missing, it puts great pressure on Ian Bell to become the second scoring pivot in this upcoming series as the batting line-up is otherwise replete with youngsters trying to fit in.
If there is an R-word this Indian team is looking for, however, then it is redemption. The 18-man squad bears a completely different look to the one that toured in 2011 or played at home in 2012-13. Only Dhoni, Gautam Gambhir and Ishant Sharma played here three summers ago, while the others who stepped into the team during the latter series were taking a first step in their respective international careers. It provides an opportunity to break away from the past and build for the future, signalling an end to the long and painful transition period.
Dhoni hints at 5 bowlers
MS Dhoni has said that he is ready to bat at number six and thus dropped big hints that his side will look to go into the first Test against England with five bowling options here on Wednesday.
‘I have to be ready at number six because that’s a crucial phase of the game where you can turn the matches. If you start getting a few boundaries and bat positively in the company of other batsmen, and that’s the time of the game you are able to get some quick runs because the ball will be slightly old and the bowlers are a bit tired. But you have to make sure that you get good start, and more importantly you capitalise on it. There are not too many teams around that have five bowlers. So, in itself it is a big challenge. It is great to have five bowlers outside the sub-continent and we will look at the wicket on Wednesday and then decide,’ Dhoni said on the eve of the opening Test.
It means that India could look to play Stuart Binny as an all-round option at number seven. Dhoni though turned diplomatic when Binny’s name was thrown at him directly. ‘Stuart is someone who can bowl a bit and at the same time bat as well. If we can give him enough chance and groom him, then he can be someone who can do that job for us in the next 6-8 months. He won’t be as good as someone like Kallis but he can be someone who can bowl that 10 overs and bat a bit,’ he replied.
Under MS Dhoni, India’s last overseas Test win had come against the West Indies at Kingston in June 2011. Since then they have gone on to lose 0-8 in two tours to England and Australia. A new overseas journey began in the 2013-14 season, which saw them play four overseas Tests in South Africa and New Zealand. But they couldn’t get back to winning ways, losing two and drawing two matches. That, however, isn’t the only fact hurting Indian cricket. Their Test form against England has really seen a downward curve in the last two encounters as after the 0-4 embarrassment, they suffered a humiliating 1-2 loss at home in the 2012-13 season. It was the first series win for England in India since 1984-85, one that marked their ascendancy in modern-day Test cricket.
However, things have changed a lot for the hosts since then. Their current Test squad bears a dissimilar look to the ones that dismantled India with such ease in their last two meetings. Cricketers who really shone in those encounters are either suffering from poor form or fatigue, Alastair Cook, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, while some, Kevin Pietersen, Graeme Swann, Jonathan Trott, have vanished from the scene altogether. The combination of Anderson and Swann (with ample support from Broad, Tim Bresnan and Monty Panesar at different times) proved lethal for India on both the previous occasions.
Whether away or at home, there was no respite for their batsmen as quality pace and swing backed up by some sensational spin bowling caused havoc in their ranks. The duo accounted for 34 out of 79 Indian wickets to fall in the summer of 2011, while their tally went up to 32 out of 55 dismissals in the winter of 2012-13. Swann’s absence is hurting England because they now have to play an additional seam bowler while off-setting the spin duties to Moeen Ali, a move that hasn’t invoked much confidence. In their last two meetings, Cook buried the Indian bowling under an avalanche of runs -- 910 runs in eight Tests (14 innings). While he searches for runs at the present moment, his captaincy has suffered and he has come under severe criticism from many quarters, a point of possible exploitation for Dhoni and his men. With Trott missing, it puts great pressure on Ian Bell to become the second scoring pivot in this upcoming series as the batting line-up is otherwise replete with youngsters trying to fit in.
If there is an R-word this Indian team is looking for, however, then it is redemption. The 18-man squad bears a completely different look to the one that toured in 2011 or played at home in 2012-13. Only Dhoni, Gautam Gambhir and Ishant Sharma played here three summers ago, while the others who stepped into the team during the latter series were taking a first step in their respective international careers. It provides an opportunity to break away from the past and build for the future, signalling an end to the long and painful transition period.
Dhoni hints at 5 bowlers
MS Dhoni has said that he is ready to bat at number six and thus dropped big hints that his side will look to go into the first Test against England with five bowling options here on Wednesday.
‘I have to be ready at number six because that’s a crucial phase of the game where you can turn the matches. If you start getting a few boundaries and bat positively in the company of other batsmen, and that’s the time of the game you are able to get some quick runs because the ball will be slightly old and the bowlers are a bit tired. But you have to make sure that you get good start, and more importantly you capitalise on it. There are not too many teams around that have five bowlers. So, in itself it is a big challenge. It is great to have five bowlers outside the sub-continent and we will look at the wicket on Wednesday and then decide,’ Dhoni said on the eve of the opening Test.
It means that India could look to play Stuart Binny as an all-round option at number seven. Dhoni though turned diplomatic when Binny’s name was thrown at him directly. ‘Stuart is someone who can bowl a bit and at the same time bat as well. If we can give him enough chance and groom him, then he can be someone who can do that job for us in the next 6-8 months. He won’t be as good as someone like Kallis but he can be someone who can bowl that 10 overs and bat a bit,’ he replied.
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