How to beat England in England, reveals Harsha Bhogle
Ahead of India's First Test against England at Trent Bridge starting today, cricket commentator and pundit Harsha Bhogle spoke about how England can be beaten on home soil.
Five Tests - a correct decision?
India will feature in five Test matches during their tour. Though fans may be of the opinion that a five-Test series is too long, Harsha thinks it is the perfect mix. "Over five Tests, inevitably the best team is the winner," thinks Harsha. Explaining his opinion, he adds "In a three-Test series you may win one, save one, and not always be the best who wins the series. But in five tests, always the best one wins."
Dhoni needs to step up
Now can India win the Test series? Harsha dwelves into a few factors that he thinks will decide it. First, do India believe they can win it? And it is here that India's captain MS Dhoni comes in. "Dhoni tends to sit back sometimes during 50-over matches, but you can't do that in a Test. You need to take 20 wickets to win. Also will Dhoni agree to bat at number 6?"
Openers are India's aces
But the most important factor that decides India's fate in a Test match, Harsha feels are their openers. "Everytime the openers do well, the whole batting does well. It sets the tempo. India's best period has always coincided with the openers doing well," opines Harsha, who is on his sixth tour of England as a cricket expert.
Inexperience to hurt India's pacers
Now to talk about the bowling. Except Ishant Sharma, none of the Indian pacers have any previous experience of bowling in a five-day encounter in England. And thus Harsha casts his doubts over India's pace attack. "Mohamed Shami is a big question mark. Also a far too much is being expected from Bhuvneshwar Kumar. I think the Indian bowlers have it in them, but still am a little iffy about them."
England under pressure, India sniff a chance
But there's no need to press the panic button yet, he consoles. Because even people in England are not quite confident about their own team. "They have lost the home Test and ODI series to Sri Lanka, and it has rattled them. They never expected to lose to Sri Lanka in the first place. Now they are on the backfoot, and can India play aggresively now?" Harsha believes that India should play to the weakness of the opposition. "Alastair Cook can't score runs, and is under tremendous pressure. And when the team's captain and best batsman is not performing the whole team suffers. If India can push them back now, it'll be a different Indiathat England will be facing. And then the home side will be left with a lot to answer."
England v India Test series:
1st Test, Trent Bridge (July 9-13)
2nd Test, Lord's (July 17-21)
3rd Test, Southampton (July 27-31)
4th Test, Manchester (August 7-11)
5th Test, The Oval (August 15-19)