To beat India, Shane Warne gives England 5-pt winning formula

"They started playing attacking shots to your defensive bowling – the stock ball matched with aggressive fields. That is when you took a wicket and the theory worked," he said.

Warne, highlighting on his second point, said Cook should conduct himself as a brave leader but at the same time he needs good support from the senior players of his side.

"As for the captain, it is a huge test for Alastair Cook on his first tour in the job. At times he will have to hold his nerve. He has to be patient, communicate with his bowlers and be positive in everything he does, whether it be with body language, press conferences and interviews or batting.

"It is also important the senior players back him up with performances. If the Kevin Pietersens, Graeme Swanns and JamesAndersons don't deliver then India are going to win. We won in India because the senior players stood up, put big runs on the board and ensured their mates were not coming to the crease under pressure. Pretty thirties are useless. It is about seeing the job through," he said.

Warne's third advice to the English side was to embrace the Indian culture.

"In 2004, we also learnt to embrace the environment. On previous tours we struggled partly because we let external influences get us down. We blamed the external factors rather than focusing on what we were doing out in the middle. England have to be able to adapt and embrace the whole package, because the culture and the people in India are wonderful."

Warne then touched upon spin bowling and emphasised on the importance of a spinner being versatile in the Indian conditions.

"For spinners in India, my advice is to realise you will be whacked at times. It is about summing up the conditions as quickly as you can. Some of the wickets they prepare mean you have to bowl faster than normal. On other pitches you will have to bowl slower. You have to adapt, concentrate and relish the challenge rather than worry about how good they are at playing spin."

... contd.

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