India v England – England in India Test Series – 2nd Test – England bowlers to watch out for
Having struggled to successfully manipulate the pitch at Ahmedabad during the first Test of their ongoing 4-match series against India, the England bowlers will be looking to make early dents in India’s batting order during the second Test, at Mumbai, in order to avoid a repeat of the 9-wicket defeat they suffered at the Sardar http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Huzefa-Mohammed-Patel-c63657 Stadium.
Out of the total 9 wickets England managed to take during the first Test, only one was claimed by a fast-bowler – bad news for an attack which comprised three pacers and just one specialist spinner. Off-spinner http://www.senore.com/Cricket/JM-Anderson-c1705. Predictably, India reached a massive total of 521 during their first innings, and even after following on, England were only able to set them a 77-run target to chase.
While the pitch at Ahmedabad was an exceptionally low and slow affair, the track at Mumbai is expected to be livelier in the earlier stages of the match. This means England’s pacers will have a chance to put their skills to good use, before the spinners step in to complete the job. Despite their dismal performance during the first Test, the Poms’ bowling arsenal contains a fair few bowlers whom the team will be counting on to deliver.
Graeme Swann
The only English bowler who made his presence felt during the Ahmedabad Test, Swann was responsible for the meagre handful of bowling highlights and breakthroughs England enjoyed during the first match. The sole specialist spinner in the attack, Swann went on to claim a total of 6 wickets during the game (5/144, 1/46), and England will be counting on him to deliver in similar fashion at Mumbai.
A veteran of 47 Tests, with 198 wickets to his credit, Swann should not find the challenge beyond him. The 33-year-old off-spinner made his Test debut in 2008, against India in Chennai, a series during which he claimed 8 wickets from two Test matches. He has gone on to deliver consistently for the team on sub-continental surfaces since then – Swann picked up a total of 13 wickets during the extended-overs series against Pakistan in the UAE earlier this year, and followed it up with 16 wickets from two Test matches against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 this March/April.
Despite his team’s dismal performance, Swann’s off-spin displayed plenty of promise at Ahmedabad, and is sure to play a key role at Mumbai as the match progresses and the pitch begins to wear down.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SCJ-Broad-c2465
Vice-captain of the national team, and spearhead of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Umesh-Yadav-c94625 fared just fine during the first Test has only added to the amount of criticism being levelled at the English pacers.
Despite his recent dismal showings, Broad currently has the most Test wickets taken by a seam bowler this year to his credit, and is a veteran of 51 Tests, with 172 wickets at an average of 31.58 and an economy rate of 3.03 to his credit.
The 26-year-old displayed fine form against Pakistan earlier this year, on the difficult UAE pitches, where he managed to pick up 13 wickets from three Tests. Despite all this, Broad failed to make an impact during the Ahmedabad Test, finishing with figures of 0/97.
However, with the pressure and responsibility on his shoulders growing, his duties as vice-captain and front-line pacer requiring improved performances, and the pitch at Mumbai rumoured to have something for the fact-bowlers in the earlier stages of the match, Broad will be counted upon to up his performances during the second Test.
Monty Panesar
Following the drubbing the Poms received at Ahmedabad, England team director http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mumbai-c820, Panesar could prove a life-saver for the Poms, should he be drafted into the line-up.
The 30-year-old spinner made his debut in 2006 against India, and has since played 42 Tests for the national side, from which he has claimed 142 scalps at an average of 33.33, with an economy rate of 2.79.
Panesar featured in two Tests in the extended-overs series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 in the UAE earlier this year, during which he claimed 14 wickets, and also went on to take 2 scalps in the first Test against Sri Lanka at Galle. While his place in the XI at Mumbai is yet to be confirmed, Panesar is bound to prove a vital part of the attack if selectors decide to play him.
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