India would aim to continue with its new-found winning momentum from the just-concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy, as it looks to take on England in a four-Test series to defend the Anthony de Mello Trophy, at home. England would have a monumental task at hand to restrict the host.
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However, England does have the confidence of its own, as it is coming off a series-winning performance in Sri Lanka, where it whitewashed the host 2-0. Nonetheless, Lanka is currently not at the same level as India and it would be a wholly different challenge for the English.
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Meanwhile, former English coach, Andy Flower has backed the English side, stating that its squad is redoubtable enough to challenge the Indians at their backyard. "It would be premature to declare the direction in which the fortunes of any team would swing. However, the English side has a formidable combination of players who can set themselves into comfortable or winning situations," he told PTI in an exclusive interview.
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Flower also feels that one good day won't define a team being on the top, as every game day would count. "A lot will depend on the game day, and the star performers' ability to convert critical opportunities. The English squad has some amazing players who have excelled in all formats of the game," he reckoned.
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Flower observed that the trend of Test cricket has changed in the past few years, which has become increasingly competitive, even if the matches tend to produce more results than a draw. "...as we can now see matches being decided or ending in result. This is in contrast to Test cricket at least until a decade ago when drawn matches were more commonplace, and batsmen played longer innings," he remarked.
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Flower also regarded that the seamers would play a crucial factor in this series. "It is not necessarily true for all international batsmen, as it has got more to do with preparation for a series and reading the bowlers' tactics right. It could be due to the players not adjusting to the conditions, (not) taking the right guard while batting, or even the movement of feet, head weight and body. It often takes long and arduous preparation to adjust to swing, and it is not undoable," he concluded.
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