England under Andrew Strauss and Andy flower have improved many folds; they have won most of their recently played Test matches, along with notching up the Ashes in Australia after 24 years. Now, as they lock horns with the numero uno Indian team, a challenge that will take the best out of them, it is important that they contemplate on the factors that may help prepare better and prevent from getting complacent.
The Sri Lanka series cannot be considered as an ideal challenge for the English team, as the Lankans played the Tests series not with the view to win but to build a team for the future under new leader and players. Yet, all England could manage was a 1-0 win!
With their star batsmen Mahela Jayewardene and Kumar Sangakkara out of form combined with the toothless bowling attack, it is enough to establish that Sri Lanka were not in the right shape to take on England, especially in England.
For England, who didn’t win convincingly against Sri Lanka at home, there are a few factors that they need to consider while they embark a journey that could lead them to be world No 1.
England didn't leave any quarter while preparing for the Ashes, and built a humongous momentum even before the series began. Though not the Ashes, but series at home against India is going to be really a challenging one. Here are a few factors which England should keep in mind before taking on with the Indians –
Indian batting vs Australia batting
One of the biggest factors during the failed Ashes campaign is that Australian batsmen struggled to score runs throughout the series. Apart from Brad Haddin and Michael Hussey, there were not too many crucial stands and runs dried up. Both Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke struggled.
But India, who still have the strongest batting order on paper despite the absence of explosive Virender Sehwag, there are many players who can chip in with their contributions. The likes of Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid promises strong batting performance. The fact that it could be their last tour to England could be motivating enough for them. And also, they’ve given their blood and sweat to make India the No 1 team, there are bleak chances that they will let it go easily.
Gautam Gambhir promises lot of stability, flow of runs, confidence and composure even in the toughest conditions. Suresh Raina and Harbhajan Singh have been consistent with the bat. MS Dhoni proved in the World Cup final that it is just a matter of few balls to regain form.
Indian bowling attack vs Australian bowling attack
It won’t be wrong to state the Australian bowling plans fell apart during the Ashes. Australians failed to capitalize on the home conditions against a determined batting order. The most important element, consistency, was missing throughout the series. A lead pacer was dropped midway through the series and other was ruled out due to injury. To top it off, inexperienced spinners such as Xavier Doherty and Michael Beer were given the bowl against determined Jonathan Trott and Alastair Cook. English got the best conditions and situations to keep piling on runs. But this won’t be the same case with India.
Pace spearhead Zaheer Khan has just returned from a long break and it should not take him long to get rolling again. Ishant Sharma’s form has come as a blessing for India and he could prove to be more destructive than Zaheer. Both Sreesanth and Praveen Kumar can prove lethal when in flow.
Though he hasn’t taken many wickets lately, but Harbhajan Singh’s presence is crucial for India. He has a knack of getting wickets at crucial intervals and can also contribute a lot with the bat.
Indian leadership vs Australian leadership
Ricky Ponting’s struggles as a leader were visible during the last days of his leadership, which particularly began when he lost the second Test at The Adelaide Oval. He made blunders such as selecting naïve spinner Doherty and Beer – for an important series like the Ashes! His poor form at the crucial No. 3 spot only added more to the Australian woes.
Well, it will be good if Andrew Strauss doesn’t expect any such blunder from a captain who has lost only three from the 27 Tests leading the team and won 15. Under Mahendra Singh Dhoni, England may not realize the true potential of the Indian team unless they face his side on-field. Lately, the Indians have adopted the same ‘Australianism’ way wherein they fight till all is not over. The Indian team has turned into a bunch of warriors who understand what is expected of them and tries to give out their best every time. For example, when all the stalwarts of the Indian batting line-up struggled against Somerset, Suresh Raina came out of nowhere and smashed the bowlers all over the park.
Somerset may claim that they’ve given England the advantage by dominating India all three days in the tour match, but it is an infantile claim. India didn’t play their full strength. Surely, that was not the real game of the No. 1 ranked side and Dhoni was missing as well!
Mentorship
Andy Flower has had a great outing with England, but he lags behind in one aspect which could prove to be critical. Though his counterpart, Duncan Fletcher has spent only two months with the Indian team, he has critical info of all England’s mainstays. Several players, including Strauss, made debut while Fletcher was England coach, so even if he may fell short of motivating and training the Indians, his knowledge and experience of England players and conditions will surely provide him an edge over Flower.
The England-India series is the biggest clash after the World Cup, and there are lot many fans out there to see India’s reign remains intact, or England taking over, but for what everyone will stand together and clap and cherish is – the Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar getting the 100th international ton at the Mecca of cricket.
The Sri Lanka series cannot be considered as an ideal challenge for the English team, as the Lankans played the Tests series not with the view to win but to build a team for the future under new leader and players. Yet, all England could manage was a 1-0 win!
With their star batsmen Mahela Jayewardene and Kumar Sangakkara out of form combined with the toothless bowling attack, it is enough to establish that Sri Lanka were not in the right shape to take on England, especially in England.
For England, who didn’t win convincingly against Sri Lanka at home, there are a few factors that they need to consider while they embark a journey that could lead them to be world No 1.
England didn't leave any quarter while preparing for the Ashes, and built a humongous momentum even before the series began. Though not the Ashes, but series at home against India is going to be really a challenging one. Here are a few factors which England should keep in mind before taking on with the Indians –
Indian batting vs Australia batting
One of the biggest factors during the failed Ashes campaign is that Australian batsmen struggled to score runs throughout the series. Apart from Brad Haddin and Michael Hussey, there were not too many crucial stands and runs dried up. Both Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke struggled.
But India, who still have the strongest batting order on paper despite the absence of explosive Virender Sehwag, there are many players who can chip in with their contributions. The likes of Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid promises strong batting performance. The fact that it could be their last tour to England could be motivating enough for them. And also, they’ve given their blood and sweat to make India the No 1 team, there are bleak chances that they will let it go easily.
Gautam Gambhir promises lot of stability, flow of runs, confidence and composure even in the toughest conditions. Suresh Raina and Harbhajan Singh have been consistent with the bat. MS Dhoni proved in the World Cup final that it is just a matter of few balls to regain form.
Indian bowling attack vs Australian bowling attack
It won’t be wrong to state the Australian bowling plans fell apart during the Ashes. Australians failed to capitalize on the home conditions against a determined batting order. The most important element, consistency, was missing throughout the series. A lead pacer was dropped midway through the series and other was ruled out due to injury. To top it off, inexperienced spinners such as Xavier Doherty and Michael Beer were given the bowl against determined Jonathan Trott and Alastair Cook. English got the best conditions and situations to keep piling on runs. But this won’t be the same case with India.
Pace spearhead Zaheer Khan has just returned from a long break and it should not take him long to get rolling again. Ishant Sharma’s form has come as a blessing for India and he could prove to be more destructive than Zaheer. Both Sreesanth and Praveen Kumar can prove lethal when in flow.
Though he hasn’t taken many wickets lately, but Harbhajan Singh’s presence is crucial for India. He has a knack of getting wickets at crucial intervals and can also contribute a lot with the bat.
Indian leadership vs Australian leadership
Ricky Ponting’s struggles as a leader were visible during the last days of his leadership, which particularly began when he lost the second Test at The Adelaide Oval. He made blunders such as selecting naïve spinner Doherty and Beer – for an important series like the Ashes! His poor form at the crucial No. 3 spot only added more to the Australian woes.
Well, it will be good if Andrew Strauss doesn’t expect any such blunder from a captain who has lost only three from the 27 Tests leading the team and won 15. Under Mahendra Singh Dhoni, England may not realize the true potential of the Indian team unless they face his side on-field. Lately, the Indians have adopted the same ‘Australianism’ way wherein they fight till all is not over. The Indian team has turned into a bunch of warriors who understand what is expected of them and tries to give out their best every time. For example, when all the stalwarts of the Indian batting line-up struggled against Somerset, Suresh Raina came out of nowhere and smashed the bowlers all over the park.
Somerset may claim that they’ve given England the advantage by dominating India all three days in the tour match, but it is an infantile claim. India didn’t play their full strength. Surely, that was not the real game of the No. 1 ranked side and Dhoni was missing as well!
Mentorship
Andy Flower has had a great outing with England, but he lags behind in one aspect which could prove to be critical. Though his counterpart, Duncan Fletcher has spent only two months with the Indian team, he has critical info of all England’s mainstays. Several players, including Strauss, made debut while Fletcher was England coach, so even if he may fell short of motivating and training the Indians, his knowledge and experience of England players and conditions will surely provide him an edge over Flower.
The England-India series is the biggest clash after the World Cup, and there are lot many fans out there to see India’s reign remains intact, or England taking over, but for what everyone will stand together and clap and cherish is – the Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar getting the 100th international ton at the Mecca of cricket.
