Wounded India look for turnaorund (Preview)

World’s number one test side, India that is what the ICC’s rankings say, landed in England with all the euphoria and excitement to take on the home team, having all the potential to dethrone the tourists. Two weeks into their tour, India have looked unprepared and undercooked for one of their most grueling tests in the recent times.

A lop-sided defeat at Lord’s confirmed the touring side’s lack of preparation and match practice and also reaffirmed the perennial belief of India being slow starters on the foreign tours. In total contrast to their opponent’s poor show, England look the team having all guns blazing and ready for what could well be termed as the summit contest in the longer format.

For both the teams, the historic Lord’s test, first of the series-100th between the two sides and 2000th overall-was an ideal opportunity to wrest the initiative in all important series. The home handed over a hard punch to the visitors to tilt balance in their favour. India looked jaded, lethargic and tired on the field, and, the hosts, on their part were charged up, energetic and clearly hd more desire to win the game than their counterparts. And, that showed in the results-England wining by 196 runs.

Not many things went India’s way. On the very first day of the match, India lost their ace spearhead Zaheer Khan due to a hamstring injury preventing him bowling more than 13.3 overs. A bowler short and too of Zaheer’s caliber, England amassed mountain of runs in the first innings and bossed the game there on. Things went from bad to worse, with Sachin Tendulkar having to bat with viral fever and Gambhir sour elbow in the second innings. Harbhajan Singh had a forgettable outing and most of the batsmen failed to emulate performance of English batsmen.

Individually, there was no Sachin 100th and the master will have to wait for the auspicious landmark for some more time. His dream of Lord’s century seems as good as over with great man unlikely be part of India’s next tour to the country as Sachin would be 40 plus that time.

Rahul Dravid’s century in the first innings, Suresh Raina’s defiant knock in the second, Praveen Kumar’s fifer and Ishant Sharma’s resurgence should have given some heart, though.

England, in contrary, had plenty to be happy about. Kevin Pietersen announced his return to the form with a terrific double century, Stuart Broad, as of now, has silenced the critics calling for his head, by emerging as the best bowler of the match. Matt Prior scored another century when chips were down, James Anderson’s fifer in the second innings made the job easier for the home team and Chris Tremlett looked too hot to handle for Indian batsmen with disconcerting bounce of his.

Now, action shifts to Trent Bridge, Nottingham, known for assisting the faster bowlers. The hosts won’t mind that one bit. Having a battery of three fast bowlers, all of them in terrific form, England will fancy their chances to bounce Indian batsmen out. In batting, England management would want their skipper Andrew Strauss to convert starts into substantial runs. If anything, England will be seeking improvement in slip catching which wasn’t at par with the standards team has set in a last couple of years or so.

Despite the defeat, there wouldn’t be much tinkering with the eleven that played at Lord’s. At least, not in the batting lineup. Both the suspects, Abhinav Mukund and Raina did well the bat to secure their place for the next test. Young Mukund looked the part thanks to a gritty 49 in the first innings; Raina was quite outstanding playing coming off an age kind of an innings to wage a lone battle against English bowlers on the fifth day. Good news for India is that both Sachin and Gambhir have recovered well from their respective complaints.

Some changes are expected in bowling department, though. With Zaheer, in all likelihood, set to miss the test, India will have to choose between S Sreesanth and Munaf Patel to fill the void. At fast bowler friendly Trent Bridge, India might be tempted to go in with four seamers. Should that happen, out of sorts Harbhajan could well be benched that will mean a berth in the eleven for both Sreesanth and Patel.

As of now, India look a team on the backfoot craving for confidence, fit men and runs from big guns to bring their campaign of holding on to the number one ranking on the track. Their opponents seem to have all the bases covered and favourites to add another test win to their kitty at Trent Bridge.

Wounded India will be drawing inspiration from history, though. For they have, on numerous occasions, comeback strongly after conceding the first test in the past. Having their knack of bouncing back from the dumps to derive hope from, India could well find themselves all geared and charged to script a turnaround in the very crucial second test. A good omen for the riveting series.

For England, it is matter of sustaining the momentum. And, making most of the advantage they hold at the minute.

England Squad : Andrew Strauss (c), Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Eoin Morgan, Matt Prior (wk),Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, Chris Tremlett, James Anderson, Tim Bresnan

India Squad : MS Dhoni (c)(wk), Gautam Gambhir (vc), Virendar Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Abhinav Mukund, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Harbhajan Singh, Amit Mishra, Zaheer Khan, Sreesanth, Munaf Patel, Ishant Sharma, Praveen Kumar