Virender Sehwag at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore. The opener is expected to join the team in England after two Tests. (TOI Photo)
MUMBAI: India's dramatic collapse against Somerset - ahead of the first Test at Lord's - might have made the occasion for the 2000th Test more compelling but former England spinner John Emburey has warned the hosts against any complacency.
Speaking to TOI from London, the former England off-spinner said India have the quality and experience in their side to bounce back any time.
"India's struggle shouldn't be read as any kind of weakness. They are the No. 1 Test team in the world and have the knowledge of playing in England. They have experience and talent to outplay any opponent," he said.
Emburey, who is closely watching the tour game, felt home advantage was not England's only asset. Their greatest advantage, he felt, was the absence of Virender Sehwag in the first two Tests.
"Not having Virender Sehwag in the side will be a big disadvantage for India, while it's a big reprieve for England. He (Sehwag) is such an entertainer and the crowd at Lord's will be disappointed not to see a batsman like him play. No doubt it will be a big occasion for Sachin Tendulkar to get his hundredth 100, but Sehwag has his own charm," he said.
The former England offie ruled out the utility of a spinner at Lord's due to rain in the last few days, though he thought Graeme Swann would be more useful in home conditions than India's Harbhajan Singh. "Harbhajan (Singh) doesn't have an incredible record in England, but he's an experienced bowler. Graeme Swann has performed marvellously in the last two years and can be dangerous in home conditions. He has the perfect drift and turn but more importantly he is, at present, a more attacking spinner than Harbhajan."
Emburey felt a lot would depend on Andrew Strauss and Mahendra Singh Dhoni as captains on the outcome of the series. "Both teams are reasonably equal. I feel all four Tests would be drawn unless Strauss or Dhoni does something special. Strauss needs to show more confidence and clear himself of any clutter ahead of a big series," he said.
Emburey considered Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma as a potent threat adding the two could trouble the English batsmen.
"Strauss is uncomfortable with the ball that leaves left-handers and the key would be to drop the length against him periodically. This is where Zaheer (Khan) would be very handy, while Ishant (Sharma) has that extra pace and bounce to be able to push the batsmen on the backfoot. Ishant also brings the ball into the right-handers which I feel only (Jonathan) Trott is comfortable with," he said.
The forthcoming Lord's Test will be memorable for cricketing as well as mathematical reasons. It will be thrilling if India manage to win it after their dodgy start to the series.
Speaking to TOI from London, the former England off-spinner said India have the quality and experience in their side to bounce back any time.
"India's struggle shouldn't be read as any kind of weakness. They are the No. 1 Test team in the world and have the knowledge of playing in England. They have experience and talent to outplay any opponent," he said.
Emburey, who is closely watching the tour game, felt home advantage was not England's only asset. Their greatest advantage, he felt, was the absence of Virender Sehwag in the first two Tests.
"Not having Virender Sehwag in the side will be a big disadvantage for India, while it's a big reprieve for England. He (Sehwag) is such an entertainer and the crowd at Lord's will be disappointed not to see a batsman like him play. No doubt it will be a big occasion for Sachin Tendulkar to get his hundredth 100, but Sehwag has his own charm," he said.
The former England offie ruled out the utility of a spinner at Lord's due to rain in the last few days, though he thought Graeme Swann would be more useful in home conditions than India's Harbhajan Singh. "Harbhajan (Singh) doesn't have an incredible record in England, but he's an experienced bowler. Graeme Swann has performed marvellously in the last two years and can be dangerous in home conditions. He has the perfect drift and turn but more importantly he is, at present, a more attacking spinner than Harbhajan."
Emburey felt a lot would depend on Andrew Strauss and Mahendra Singh Dhoni as captains on the outcome of the series. "Both teams are reasonably equal. I feel all four Tests would be drawn unless Strauss or Dhoni does something special. Strauss needs to show more confidence and clear himself of any clutter ahead of a big series," he said.
Emburey considered Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma as a potent threat adding the two could trouble the English batsmen.
"Strauss is uncomfortable with the ball that leaves left-handers and the key would be to drop the length against him periodically. This is where Zaheer (Khan) would be very handy, while Ishant (Sharma) has that extra pace and bounce to be able to push the batsmen on the backfoot. Ishant also brings the ball into the right-handers which I feel only (Jonathan) Trott is comfortable with," he said.
The forthcoming Lord's Test will be memorable for cricketing as well as mathematical reasons. It will be thrilling if India manage to win it after their dodgy start to the series.
No comments:
Post a Comment