When the first ever Test match commenced in 1877, not many believed that the cauldron of Test Cricket will achieve its 2000th landmark after a century of years and more. And it could only be fitting to see the top seeds locking horns at a ground which personifies the game.
For team India, its time to prove their mettle at the home of cricket after they went on a rampage to dethrone top teams to lift the World Cup three months ago and then emerging victorious after a low profile Windies tour. For England, it’s a golden opportunity to lay the critics to rest and prove that their recent form is not just a passing phase that’s not going to face anytime soon. Any cricket lover would easily fall in love even with a single mention that its India vs. England. The hype all around is at times even surpassing that during the World Cup.
When India last toured the British four years ago, they were a side which was on a reconstruction phase after a dismal WC ’07 outing.
A lot has not remained the same since then, the team has raised from a position of rebuilding to that of a current super power. England, on the other hand have played the most awe-in-spiring cricket of their life with the captain registering two Ashes victory over the mighty Aussies. So what plan do the English go ahead with? Obviously, every team has a plan to damage the opponent teams’ spine, and according to Kevin Pietersen’s belief they do have a plan for Sachin Tendulkar. Well, not to aim anything at you Mr. Kevin but then haven't every side and their captains have had an idea or two to trap the master in recent years, yet they guy today is standing on the threshold of achieving a feat that no sportsperson and I mean by a long term can possibly not duplicate. A landmark which is equivalent to a team winning 25 super bowls.
Apart from that, the Indian middle order with Dravid and Laxman wouldn’t leave any chance of occupying the crease and then consolidating with the former revisits the era when he almost scored a century on debut. 15 years on, he’s still the same man with nothing more left to prove. Raina, Yuvraj and captain M.S Dhoni have their bag full of runs behind them and the bowling department spearheaded by Zaheer who can make a ball talk on given conditions along with Ishant Sharma who has 22 wickets behind him from the Caribbean tour can extract steep bounce and movement from the 2 yard strip at the Mecca.
This will be my 4th experience of watching my country tour England and trust me, never before have had I felt more challenged in the past 3 outings than this one. The recently concluded Sri Lanka has witnessed some breathtaking individual performances from captain Strauss along with his opening partner Alistair Cook. Pietersen with his unpredictive nature and Bell with his almost effortless ability to occupy the crease will turn out to be more than healthy for the hosts. Talking about the middle order, Jonathan Trott is currently averaging more than 61 in just 21 test appearances. He along with the muscle man Eoin Morgan have come of their own. Anderson and Tremlett have come a long way since the 2007 series. Anderson with his reverse and Tremlett with his bounce can trouble the “best batting line-up” in the world. To add to it, Graeme Swann is not the no. 1 spinner in the world for without a reason.
Indeed, it seems a series very much even on the cards.
When M.S Dhoni and Andrew Strauss walkout with their teams on the green lusty outfield at LORDS, history awaits them in many forms. And for skipper Dhoni especially who has achieved literally almost everything at just 30 that a captain would wish for. He would, without a shadow of a doubt have Goosebumps leading into the 100th encounter between the two sides as we all get set to witness the most anticipated series over the last year.
I liked that you even gave the English side's description and talent along with the Indian team though still the inclination towards the visiting side is evident in your writing. Well I know the Indian feeling doesn't go and it isn't a problem. Yet again Adi I'll say is some sentences are not too long but something that appears to be stressed upon. If you want to do so then write them in two smaller sentences or in a more precise, to the point sentence. You are not writing a report here so use of few adjectives can be helpful.
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