Make pitches tough for India - Tremlett
Chris Tremlett wants the grounds in England which are hosting Tests against India to produce lively pitches
Andrew McGlashan
23-Jun-2011
Chris Tremlett wants the grounds in England which are hosting Tests against India to produce lively pitches so that the hosts can make the most of home advantage with their strong pace attack. The matches will be played at Lord's, Edgbaston, Trent Bridge and The Oval and Tremlett hopes the visitors feel uncomfortable.
Tremlett said the recent surface at the Rose Bowl - where he took a career-best 6 for 48 against Sri Lanka to seal the Man-of-the-Series award - was the "perfect" Test pitch with help on offer for the bowlers, but runs available for quality batsmen as Ian Bell and Kumar Sangakkara showed with their hundreds. Tremlett knows England never get any favours from India in their home country and believes the same should apply in this series.
"I think that it's important when you are playing in your home Test matches that you should be able to produce the conditions you want," he told ESPNcricinfo at a Chance to Shine event in London. "India are used to playing in their conditions and we find it tough when we go over there so it's about trying to use things at home to our advantage.
"The Rose Bowl was the perfect Test wicket in my opinion. It had some pace, had some carry and there was a bit in it with the conditions. The lads who batted on it said the ball was coming on nicely. Generally cricket is more entertaining to watch with a pitch like that. Maybe Lord's and Cardiff were a tad slow and the cricket a little stale at times, but hopefully there will be pace and bounce against India and we can take advantage."
However, Tremlett knows that even if conditions help England that India are going to be a tough batting line-up to break down. In his debut series in 2007 - against a line-up including Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman and MS Dhoni who will return this time - he remembers toiling hard on some flat pitches. He believes patience will be the key to bringing England success this time as they aim to overturn the 1-0 loss four years ago.
Chris Tremlett hasn't been selected for England's one-day squad so already has an eye on India's arrival•Getty Images
"We had to be very patient and I think it will be the same this time," he said. "They have a couple of very attacking players in Dhoni and Sehwag, but guys like Dravid and Tendulkar we know are very patient batsman and hard to remove. I think I'm good at banging an area consistently, being aggressive, but mixing it with patience and hopefully my past experiences will help."
The Test matches against India are now going to be the next cricket Tremlett plays for England after he was omitted from the Twenty20 and one-day squads to face Sri Lanka over the next three weeks. Given his form it was a surprise there was no place for him, especially with the experienced Tim Bresnan injured, but Tremlett is seeing it as an opportunity to ensure he's at his peak for India's arrival.
"I've been given a rest but I also think they want to give other guys a go," he said. "I'm disappointed, I felt I bowled reasonably well in Australia and played a couple of games at the World Cup. My focus is now to move onto the India series and be ready for that.
"Even though I'm having a bit of a rest I think it's important I keep ticking over and get some overs under my belt by playing a few Twenty20 games for Surrey and there's a four-day game against Kent which will good preparation. There's a chance for me to get some bowling but also to do some work in the gym and make sure I'm ready to for India."
There was a significant shift of hierarchy within England's fast bowlers during the Rose Bowl Test with Tremlett promoted to the new ball in the second innings at the expense of Stuart Broad. It was a role he performed creditably during the Ashes, and in the second innings at Cardiff when James Anderson was injured, and while Tremlett is happy with any role in the team he does enjoy having first crack at the opposition.
"I think I can play a role either way, sometimes conditions dictate that," he said. "I feel I can offer quite a bit with the new ball with my bounce. At the same time I don't mind using an older ball because you can get some swing when the lacquer has come off. However, I do feel I've done well with the new ball whenever I've been given the chance."
That next chance will come against one of the strongest batting line-ups in world cricket, but Tremlett won't be fazed by the challenge. He has returned to England's Test ranks as a close to complete fast bowler, and a successful series against India will cement him among the finest pacemen in the game.
Chris Tremlett is an ambassador for Chance to Shine and was speaking on 'Brit Insurance National Cricket Day'. Chance to Shine supported by Brit Insurance has brought cricket to over 1 million state schoolchildren. The programme costs £5million, or £15 per child, to run each year. To make a donation visit the Chance to Shine website
Andrew McGlashan is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo