Preview to the 1st Test : India vs England

India vs England begins in 2 days and talking from fresh cricket perspective with no backdrop of 11/26, the favorites are India to win fair and square.

Expected scoreline : 2-0 (if no rains in Chennai) or 1-0 (if Chennai is rained out) to India.

Key players to watch for :

From Indian perspective :

1. Yuvraj Singh : needless to mention that this might be a last chance for himself to establish on the Test level. A fair run is essential to be granted to the maverick southpaw.

2. Rahul Dravid : Critics are out to get him. His send-offs are written and just a matter of time they are rolled out in anticipation of a possible retirement announcement. However, this blog supports him to the core and is hopeful that he would bounce back rock solid and hard to the critics. Write him off @ ur perils.

3. Mahendra Singh Dhoni : First Test series as full time captain. No Ganguly and no Kumble. First series in 20 years when India goes to a series without Kumble (excluding his injury breaks) and onus on MSD how he handles Amit Mishra as Anil ‘s replacement.

4. Virender Sehwag : Back to what he does the best. Hammer the bowlers. Primary reason for 5-0 washout in the oDIs, but was overshadowed by majestic hundreds by Yuvraj. Except for one game gave starts in all 5 games. Is one of the top scorer in Tests this year (beside Graeme Smith). A hundred or 2 in the offing.

5. Gautam Gambhir : Back after the Test ban, he would be back on his favorite spot. In form of his life, much depends on the starts he and Viru provide in every innings. Easily on the road of being India’s best opening pair EVER.

From English perspective :

1. Kevin Pieterson : England s captain and best batsman. Got form late in ODIs but made little difference in Cuttack. A lot would depend on the man if England are to show up a good performance out here. Lot of responsibilities off the field too dealing with the security issues.

2. Freddie Flintoff : Back to full fitness (?) and amongst the top 3 batsmen of the England team. First change bowler and a hard hitting batsman at 6 or 7. Would be key with both bat and ball for fortunes of England in the series.

3. Ali Cook : A man who has not hit a single six in international cricket career so far would have lot of responsibility to give a good start to the team with Andrew Strauss. Back in the country where he was rushed to the Test debut 2 yrs back, he would be eyeing few runs in his belt before of course England’s bread and butter series against Aussies begin.

4. Monty Panesar : England win or lose, lot depends on his performance. A lot of promise was showed in his debut in the same country 2 yrs back and with SRT as 1^st Test wicket, would be keen to resume his battle with Tendulkar and Dravid. Would be interesting to see how he balls to Sehwag. If he is able to keep runs in the check and take wkts, he would have done a world of good to his expectations.

Chennai is a spoil sport venue this days. Its been 6 years since a game was played with a result in Chennai (WI, 2002). Since then owing to rains or flat tracks, the games have either being drawn or abandoned. Thanks to the security issues and the ongoing tussle between the BCCI and CAB, Kolkata missed out on hosting the test match.

And with concerns over Mohali too, it would be interesting to see where the second Test is held. Delhi could be one option, Kolkata wont be any, Bangalore could be third.

Let cricket begin with no mention of 11/26. No statements, no over the top opinions on separating terror from cricket, no pointings to the fragile Indian mindset right now and god sake no equating with the country lying in the north west of us. A silence on 11/26 from cricketing point of view is needed. We don’t need to listen what Indian cricketers or English cricketers feel. We must thank England for the resumption of tour in the wake of crisis and security concerns. And for now lets get on with the game. Lets get on with our RELIGION. The one factor that binds entire country and unites it.

Gentlemen PLAY!!!