England v India: MS Dhoni hints at Stuart Binny's inclusion; Alastair Cook hopeful of Matt Prior playing
Speaking to the media on the eve of the first Test match against the hosts England, Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, hinting at the possibility of the seam bowling all-rounder Stuart Binny coming into the side, said that the team has to accept that the wickets in England will not play to their strength – which is the spinners – and learn to adapt accordingly.
“We have to make most of what we have. Stuart (Binny) can seam & swing the ball and we have to give him (a) chance. He can bowl 10 overs and (can) bat,” said Dhoni, who is trying to zero in on the winning combination.
The 33-year-old added: “We won’t get wickets that turn. In the five Tests there may be one in which we may get one wicket for two spinners. And then it may not turn. We have no confusion in that regard.”
If Binny comes in, he is most likely to replace Rohit Sharma, as India wouldn’t risk dropping Ravindra Jadeja, who is their only frontline spin bowler, and Rahane, besides being impressive in the South Africa and New Zealand Test series, has performed well in the practice matches.
Dhoni also acknowledged the influence that the Indian batting great Rahul Dravid has had on the team after his appointment as the team mentor, which is a short-term arrangement. He said: “The players have always been comfortable with him.”
Alastair Cook expects Indian bowlers to step up:
His counterpart Cook expected the Indian bowlers to raise their game, playing down their disappointing show in the two warm-up games against Leicestershire and Derbyshire, before calling the new look side “dangerous”.
“I wouldn't reach too much into Indian bowlers warm-up match performances. They treated it like warm-up, intensity will rise.”
"India are inexperienced but that also means most of them don't have scars of 2011. That makes them dangerous,” the left-hander added.
The England captain, who has had an unusually wretched year with the bat, said: “Never felt i'm hitting the ball badly. Have worked in last 10 days.”
The 29-year-old was hopeful of wicket-keeper Matt Prior making the cut, even though Jos Buttler has joined the side as a back-up, and played down the injury threat as a minor concern.
After their defeat to India at Trent Bridge in 2007, England haven't lost a single Test match at the venue.