Partab Ramchand25-Jul-2002

Like their away record in most countries, India's past performances in England make for poor reading. They have won only two of the 13 series played in England and lost the remaining, including the sole Test of 1932. Broken down into Tests, India have won just three and lost 22 out of 41 matches.

On past record, then, England would seem to have everything in their favour as the 2002 series gets underway at Lord's on Thursday. At the game's headquarters, India has a particularly unenviable record, having lost nine and winning only one of 13 Tests. In the vastly different wicket and weather conditions of England, Indian teams have generally come a cropper. This has been the case even though the record has improved marginally since Ajit Wadekar's team in 1971 proved that England could be beaten.

Why then is the mood generally upbeat in the Indian camp, despite this woeful record? For starters, the near-miraculous triumph in the NatWest final 10 days ago has raised the visitors' confidence more than a notch. Sure, that was one-day cricket and this is a Test series, but a victory boosts a side's confidence, and the manner in which that triumph was achieved showed that this is not a side waiting for the opposition to run over them.

Indeed, the players seem hungry and impatient for success. Led by a man who has proved time and again that he is a tough, nononsense captain, the side is an ideal blend of youth and experience, with a formidable array of stroke-playing batsmen who can put to the sword any attack. The bowling, by comparison, has some holes, but these can be covered up by the strong batting and by outstanding fielding ­ a department in which India now posses some notable exponents.

Also, on close scrutiny, it can be observed that despite the home advantage, England are a pretty modest side, and being beset with injury problems has not helped their cause. The non-availability of Darren Gough, Andrew Caddick, Alex Tudor and Marcus Trescothick has meant that both the batting and bowling have been considerably weakened. It is still not a poor side and is rather well served in both batting and bowling, and Nasser Hussain has proved to be a worthy leader in the past. However this does seem to be the right time for a full-strength, confident Indian side to strike. Certainly, it constitutes their best chance to win a series outside the subcontinent for the first time since they defeated England in 1986.

But to be candid, India have problems of their own as well, despite the rosy-looking scenario. The thin bowling line-up is one such obvious deficiency. Playing in the second half of the summer, India will have to go in with both Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh, which means there is place for only two of Ajit Agarkar, Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra. Sourav Ganguly can be expected to fill in the fifth bowler's role more than adequately as he has already shown.

© CricInfo

As far as the batting goes, there is no problem with the middle order. On the contrary, it is a case of an embarrassment of riches, what with Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Ganguly and Virender Sehwag around, and the problem will be one of whom to leave out. But there have been questions raised over the top of the order. The first choice should be the conventional one - Shiv Sunder Das and Wasim Jaffer. But given the former's lack of form both in the West Indies and on the tour thus far, there has been talk of opening with Sanjay Bangar, Sehwag or even Dravid.

In my view, the tried and tested pair of Das and Jaffer should be entrusted with the job at Lord's. Das has to be treated with patience and understanding. He is technically sound and is only lacking in confidence. He needs only one good score to boost his morale. Bangar, for all his recent all-round form, is clearly not a Test-class opening bat. Sehwag's aggression would be better served in the middle order, and blustering methods at the top are not likely to succeed in English conditions. If anything, the example of K Srikkanth in 1986 could be offered as a deterrent to any such move. The swashbuckling batsman could muster only 105 runs from six innings at an average of 17.50 in the Tests, and even on the tour he had a rather unhappy time, scoring just 344 runs from 14 innings at an average of 24.57.

© CricInfo

However, indications are that Sehwag will open with Jaffer in the first Test. Of course, the silver lining in playing Sehwag at the top instead of Das would mean that Laxman, who otherwise might be the one left out, will get a look-in. India can only hope that the gamble of playing Sehwag as an opener ­ and that is what it is, a gamble ­ pays off. However, as far as sending Dravid once again to open the innings, there should never even be any discussion on the subject. He has been made a sacrificial lamb of sorts in the limited-overs game, and this kind of treatment should not be meted out to the vice-captain and the side's sheetanchor in Tests. It is also to be hoped that he is not entrusted with the wicket-keeper's job and that Ajay Ratra will take his rightful place behind the stumps.