The ESPN-Star network has started a channel exclusive for Cricket, for the cricket crazy nation-India. And now as India is in England for their much awaited cricket series, the exclusive cricket channel, Star Cricket proclaims – India in England - Boss.
Being a young man of 24 years, I am able to recollect only two instances before this time that India has toured England for a test series. At the same time I am very much aware of the series of 1989-90 that had given world cricket one of the greatest batsmen of all times – Sachin Tendulkar. After that there had been two more series that India played there in England and no Indian cricket fan can ever forget the 1996 series that saw the emergence of the games’ two greatest sons – Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly.
Anyways past is past and so rather than basking in the glory of our past performances, it will be better off for us to discuss about the present series. Two tests are over and the third one is due for 9th August at the Oval. Excitement was not at all missing in the first test at the Lords and in the second test at Trent Bridge. Infact there were plenty of it, so much so that it was quite hard to believe the old saying that test matches are a boring event that provides no excitement, no thrill and no exhilaration. For India, the Lords Test match was not at all easy by any stretch of imagination and to be frankly plain, it was a close shave for the team. The beleaguered Indian team was saved by the timely knock of wicket keeper batsman, MS Dhoni and of course by the rain Gods. It was really hard luck for the English and they have outplayed the Indians in all departments of the game. The match saw the so-called great Indian batting line up falling like ninepins and the inexperienced English bowling attack making their mark in the international scene.
But all changed in the second test at Trent Bridge which saw the Indian team coming out with great courage, spirit and sense of pride to demolish the England team with wonderful batting and bowling performances. 91 runs made by Tendulkar and 79 made by Ganguly showed that the old war horses still have the capacity and capability to stand tall and demolish any sort of bowling attack. But the most stirring aspect of the match was the performance of the Indian swing bowlers, particularly Zaheer Khan and RP Singh. They swung the ball both ways and created trouble for the English batsmen who are used to batting in the swinging conditions. Though Sreesanth was wavered at the beginning of England second innings he came back quite well in the latter part of that innings. And all appreciation should be given to the two left armers of the Indian team for making India victorious in the second test at Trent Bridge, which happens to be the third oldest test venue in the world after the Lords and the Eden Gardens.
Now that the first two tests are over all eyes will be looking towards the Oval where the third test will start on 9th August. Both teams have played with the same eleven for the first two tests and there is possibly going to be some changes in both teams for the third test. England will be looking to accommodate their proficient swing bowler Mathew Hoggard who is coming back from an injury, but their problem will be on taking a decision on whether to change their well performing trio of pace bowlers – Anderson, Sidebottom and Tremlett for Hoggard. India will have to make a decision on whether to continue with the struggling Sreesanth or include Ranadeb Bose who has performed very well in the practice match by taking a five for. Whatever may be the team combination of both teams, all are expecting to see a very intriguing test match at the Oval.
Even after the Oval test match India will be in England for the 7 match one-day series between the two teams. That one-dayers are also expected to be a fascinating contest between the bat and the bowl and also will potentially provide an insight into the batting and bowling capabilities of each and every single individual in the two teams. So as of now we can all enjoy this enthralling battle between two of the world’s greatest cricketing nations because still India is in England - boss.
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