Under-pressure India look to bounce back against England

Englishmen's frailty for the away going deliveries means that Ojha, in all likelihood, would make the cut, while Ashwin is likely to retain his place.

Local lad Ashok Dinda may be hoping to earn his maiden Test berth but with the experienced Zaheer around, and Ishant Sharma in the ranks, he may be warming the bench.

By all means India would be desperately making vast improvements in order to bounce back into the series, something they have done with aplomb in the past.

The historic Eden Gardens too will inspire the Indians, who have scored more than 600 in their last three Tests, winning two and drawing one with their last loss here coming more than a decade back -- against Pakistan in the Asian Test Championship 1998-99.

As per the wicket, it has always known to have assisted some seam movement early on before getting slow and low from day two. This time too it seems to be no different.

The wicket on offer would be the one that a fortnight ago hosted a Bengal-Gujarat Ranji match and Gujarat forced out a draw with their No 8 and 9 batting out the last day with a century-plus partnership.

England may include pacer Steve Finn, who is raring to go after overcoming a thigh injury, which forced him out of the first two Tests.

Finn took 4-50 in 16 overs during the England Performance Programme's victory over the DY Patil Academy XI last week and England might pick him to trouble Indian batsmen with pace and bounce early on.

The 23-year-old fast bowler may cost a struggling Stuart Board a place in the side.

"If I'm picked as part of a two-man seam attack, I might be used in a strike-bowling capacity," Finn said.

In Panesar and Swann, the Englishmen have the house in order in the spin department. Their success will depend heavily on the duo's consistent performance, even as India would look to dominate spinners as they have done in the past.

... contd.

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