Top ranking at stake for Team India; England look good to take an unbeatable lead

A Preview ahead of the Third Test at Edgbaston, Birmingham 


SHUVAIT KOUL

When India plays England at Edgbaston, Birmingham in the third test today, it will easily be the most crucial match of MS Dhoni’s test career so far. England has gone all guns blazing against the World Champions and it will require a daunting task from Team India to tame the English on their soil particularly after putting up a dismal performance in the first two tests.

Indians will be playing with their backs to the wall as their number one ranking in test cricket is at stake. Moreover, with the likes of the experienced Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh not in the team, it will take a lot of character from Dhoni’s men to put up a great spectacle at Edgbaston.

A lot of onus rests on the shoulders of the little master Sachin Tendulkar who hasn’t fired in the series so far. He is undoubtedly due for a big one and what bigger stage than this to get his 100^th international ton when India are neck deep in waters. All eyes will also be on ‘The Wall’ -Rahul Dravid who has been the only Indian batsman who has looked solid with two centuries and taken the attack to the English team.

Team India should also draw inspiration from the fact that the swashbuckling Virender Sehwag is back in the side. Coming back from a shoulder injury, he may not be a hundred percent fit but one can never write his flamboyance off. If he goes on a rampage, it will be tough for Strauss and his men to stop him.

The great Wasim Akram went on record lauding the Indian selectors’ decision to send in RP Singh as a replacement for the injured Zaheer Khan. His high arm action and upright seam may come in handy in English conditions but he will need constant support on the other end from the seamers Ishant Sharma and Praveen Kumar, both of whom have hit the purple patch in this series.

As for England, the script could not have been written any better as they come into the third test looking to take an unbeatable 3-0 lead. Winning the first two tests comprehensively has put them right on top of Team India both in terms of morale and the series arithmetic. However they will miss the services of the in-form Jonathan Trott but the cohesiveness with which they have played right throughout the series will make sure that his absence will not make much of a difference to the team’s make-up.

Meanwhile it will be interesting to see whether the Indian skipper goes with three seamers and a spinner or an all pace attack given that he is predominantly an instinctive leader.

All in all, given their ‘World Champion’ tag, Team India would be expected to come up with a resilient fight to salvage their pride at Edgbaston to try and retain their number one spot in Test rankings.