India-England five-match Test Series, one of the most awaited event in the sporting calendar, is about to commence from November 9, 2016. While India would start favourites in their home conditions and with quality spinners in their side, they would also be aware that England are the only team that have defeated India in its own backyard in the past four years.
However, it is also a fact that it is not the same England team that came to India a year ago. Alastair Cook isn’t in the form which he was in the previous tour. There is no Kevin Pietersen either who can score a century on a track which is turning square. Neither they have Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar who can use India’s weapon of spin against India itself.
Yet Cook would know that if they make a good start to the series, then the story of 2012 can be repeated and that is what makes the first test so important. The spinners in the English team are relatively inexperienced and that is something that England wouldn’t be comfortable with. Their batting largely depends upon Cook and Root.
On the other hand, India are more balanced side this time around, at least by the looks of it. And there is every possibility that India can go with three spinners with Amit Mishra adding a leg spinning option to Virat Kohli’s armoury of spin bowling. With Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli and Ajikya Rahane having a good Test series against the New Zealand, batting doesn’t seem to be a problem as of now. Kohli would look to better his record against the English team. India will also look for a good start from Gautam Gambhir-Murali Vijay. India will treat Moen Ali with a lot more respect and seriousness because of the impact he had on the series the previous time they encountered.
Toss would also play an important role if the pitch is typically Indian. Win the toss and bat first because you don’t want to be chasing on day 4 and 5 when the wicket is getting difficult to bat on. Even if there is a bit of moisture on the surface, only the first session is beneficial for the bowling team, otherwise Day 1 and Day 2 are the best batting days in a test match in India and both the teams would like to win the toss and bat first.
Lot of battles within the big battle to be fought, lots to watch for in what promises to be a thrilling contest.
The broadcast starts at 9:30 AM Live on Star Sports 1 Star Sports 3 Star Sports HD from the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot.
Squads
India: Gautam Gambhir, Murali Vijay, Karun Nair, Virat Kohli (C), Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Wriddhiman Saha (WK), Ravichandran Ashwin, Amit Mishra, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Jayant Yadav, Hardik Pandya.
England: Alastair Cook (C), Moeen Ali, Zafar Ansari, Jonny Bairstow (wicketkeeper), Jake Ball, Gary Ballance, Gareth Batty, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Ben Duckett, Steven Finn, Haseeb Hameed, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes, James Anderson.
