OUR CHANCES IN ENGLAND

It will be the last tour to England for Dravid, Sachin, Ganguly and Kumble. They would want to finish on a winning note. This is analysis of India’s chances in England.

BATTING
Jaffer is a solid batsman and has ability to score hundreds regularly. But curretly he is struggling with form. Dinesh Karthik has got good technique and temperament for test cricket. He had good outing in the recent tour games. I would have loved Yuvraj Singh to be in the middle order. He could have groomed into a good test batsman with big three set to retire in a year or two. But whatever chances he had at this level he had not utilized properly. The big four have lot of experience and that is a big plus. Sachin looks good and determined to score match-winning hundreds. Dravid is solid as usual. Ganguly and Laxman are not at top of their game.
Current Form: Very good – Sachin. Average – Dravid, Karthik, Gambhir and Yuvraj. Below Average – Ganguly, Laxman and Dhoni. Poor – Jaffer.
Action Plan: Batsmen need to raise their games. Atleast two of the top four must be in great form.

BOWLING
Kumble will be the key to our bowling attack and he looks good. Indian pacemen lacks experience but they are good enough to excel in English conditions. Zaheer has not got a good record in test cricket. But his county experience should help him here. Sreesanth in his short career has impressed everyone in test cricket. He has got good pace and out swinger. RP Singh will surprise the batsman with his lift. India would definitely miss Munaf Patel who has got good reverse swing. None of the Indian pacemen looked convincing in the tour games.
Current Form: Good – Kumble. Average – Powar. Below Average – Zaheer, Sreesanth, RP Singh, Ishant Sharma and Ranadeb Bose.
Action Plan: Pace bowlers need to raise their games by leap and bounds. They need to take wickets at regular intervals. They should not allow English batsmen to dominate and build partnerships.

Team India’s catching in slips and close in fielding positions needs to be perfect. The bowlers need to get rid of their usual inability of allowing tail to flourish. In recent times Indian batsmen failed to save test matches that could have been easily saved if they had applied themselves for a season or two. They also failed to accelerate when needed. If they can tighten these aspects India will be on the winning side.

English batsmen are in good nick. Monty and Sidebottom are in good form. Absence of Flintoff and Harmison would not affect England much because they were not in great form. Vaughan’s calming presence would definitely bolster English side.
Prediction: English are the slight favorites to win this test series.

India’s likely XI for the first test would be: Jaffer, Karthik, Dravid, Sachin, Laxman, Ganguly, Dhoni, Kumble, Zaheer, Sreesanth and RP Singh.