England have a real chance if Steve Finn can resume hostilities

 
Gareth Copley/Getty
Tom Collomosse11 January 2013

England's Test series victory in India was one of their finest achievements in recent times but should they repeat that in the forthcoming five 50-over contests, it would be just as impressive an effort.

Winning in India in any form of cricket is devilishly difficult and in the modern era, limited-overs success is a serious challenge against a team who have made the shorter versions of the game their priority.

The International Cricket Council’s one-day rankings have England top, two places above India, who were defeated 2-1 at home in their recent series against fierce rivals Pakistan. The home side remain favourites, though, as their knowledge of the conditions and the previous results of these matches mean the gambler who backs England is brave indeed.

A little more than a year ago, England slumped to a 5-0 whitewash in India in the most chastening period of Alastair Cook’s captaincy. In 2008, India prevailed by the same margin and in 2005-06 the outcome was even more uncomfortable for England, as they were defeated 6-1.

Although the results of warm-up matches are sometimes misleading, England have succumbed in both of theirs, against Delhi and India ‘A’.

Those results alone should make even the most optimistic England fan cautious, yet there are reasons to be positive. Kevin Pietersen showed during the Test series that he is back to his best and the 32-year-old will be desperate to impress in a country where his talents are widely admired.

Pietersen has now signed a new central contract, bringing to a formal conclusion the huge distraction caused by the text-message saga of last summer. Pietersen’s ill-judged words to members of the South African team saw him exiled from the England side but his process of “reintegration” moved forward swiftly during the Indian Test series, and he has now been placed on a full deal again.

“It is great news and it’s great for me to have him,” said Ashley Giles, England’s new limited-overs coach. “His experience in this part of the world is invaluable.”

Even though neither of the two warm-up matches went as planned, England have the weapons to trouble India, as long as enough of them function at the same time. Despite the result of the 2011 series, Steve Finn bowled with maturity and hostility and if England are to damage their opponents, he will have to do so again.

Recently, injuries have prevented Finn from nailing down a regular place in the Test team but he is a guaranteed starter in the shorter forms and he will be confident of building further on his rich potential.

Furthermore, the decision to rest senior bowlers Jimmy Anderson and Graeme Swann places greater responsibility on the 23-year-old.

Certainly, Giles will be counting on him. It will be fascinating to see how the former Test spinner conducts himself on his first tour as a full-time England coach. Andy Flower has stepped down from limited-overs duty but he will be watching closely, and Giles could hardly have wished for a more challenging tour on which to begin his new role.

He can, at least, console himself by reflecting on India’s current state of mind. Beaten by Pakistan, the 2011 World Cup winners are in transition. Sachin Tendulkar announced his international retirement from ODIs last month and for the first three matches of this series, Virender Sehwag has been dropped.

Even though Sehwag could be brought back for the final two games, the sense is that he does not fit into the selectors’ plans for the 2015 World Cup and the 34-year-old might have played his last international 50-over match.

Sehwag and Tendulkar have played 714 one-day internationals between them which, regardless of their waning powers, is a great deal of experience to have to replace.

The results of the Test series against England and the one-day series with Pakistan have left India’s captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni under extreme pressure. Another series defeat would crank it up even further but that task might just be beyond this promising England side.

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