"We are playing a five Test series after a long time. We are happy with our preparation."
After a clean sweep versus New Zealand, India plan and get ready for more stimulating cricket against England.
The bilateral cricket series between the two sides consists of 5 Test matches, 3 ODI games and 3 T20 Internationals.
The first Test match gets underway at the Saurashtra Cricket Stadium in Rajkot on Wednesday 9th November 2016.
With key players featuring in both teams, the next few weeks will no doubt deliver excitement, admirable skills and a healthy rivalry.
After recovering from illness, Ishant Sharma was back in the nets as India made preparations for the series against England.
The team is on a buzz after a 3-0 whitewash against New Zealand in the test series. The Men in Blue also retain their World No. 1 ranking in tests following the victory against the Kiwis.
In 2012/2013, England won the 3 match Test series 2-1, whilst India came on top 3-1 in the ODI series.
Speaking about the preparations for the 2016 series, Indian head coach Anil Kumble said:
“We are playing a five Test series after a long time. We are happy with our preparation.”
England may be seen as the underdogs after losing a test against Bangladesh last month. However, with a young exciting team, they should not be underestimated.
The Indian coach has praised the quality of the English side, especially Alistair Cook and Joe Root. James Anderson will be joining the England squad in India for the 2nd Test after being left out on the tour of Bangladesh due to an injury.
Stuart Broad who is to play his 100th Test match is relishing another challenging tour. Highlighting his personal milestone and the importance of early momentum, Broad said:
“It’s great to get a milestone, being in such an important game. We know how vital it is to start these tours well.
“We’ve been training really hard the last couple of weeks since Dhaka, to put some wrongs right.”
India meanwhile is facing a selection dilemma. The injured, Rohit Sharma, along with Shikhar Dhawan have been left out of the squad for the first two tests against England.
Besides Rajkot making its test debut, Hardik Pandya or Karan Nair could also play their first game in test cricket.
Whilst it could be a close series, India still has a slight edge having a good track record at home. May the best team win!
Loading ...