India vs England: 4 reasons why India will find it difficult in English conditions

Every time when India travel abroad, the first question asked is, can India do it this time? Unfortunately most of the times at the end of the series the answer is NO. Till now India hasn’t won a single Test Series in South Africa and Australia but have won one in England under Rahul Dravid's captaincy. When India travels to England in July this year, they will hope they can repeat their old heroics. Last time when India toured England, India started the tour well as they drew the first game and won the second game at Lords. But later on it all went downhill and India lost the five-match test series by a margin of 3-1. There are a few changes in the current lot of players but the main core remains the same. Glenn McGrath the Australian legend has said that the Indian players will find it difficult in England and it won’t be easy. So let’s have a look at 4 reasons as to why India will find it difficult in England when they tour in July this year.

4. The dynamic duo of Stuart Broad and James Anderson

Broad and Anderson have over 900 wickets between them

Stuart Broad and James Anderson are one of the major threats to India when India tour England this year. The pair has more than 900 test wickets between them. When it comes to bowling in pairs, these two are up there with some of the legends. They love bowling in tandem and especially in home conditions. They will definitely get seamer-friendly conditions in England. Last time when India toured England, Broad and Anderson took the bulk of the wickets and they ended up being the leading wicket-takers in the series. Anderson took 25 wickets in 5 games whereas Broad took 19 wickets in 5 games. With more than 500 Test wickets to his name, James Anderson is already a test great for England. He also had Virat Kohli's number, so to speak, in 2014 and will be hoping that he can do the same this time around too. Kohli and co. have to be aware of the fact that Anderson and Broad can still run through sides on their day.

3. Alastair Cook and Joe Root – Love Playing Against India`

Cook and Root both average above 50 against India

If you ask Cook and Root their last wish they would say, let me bat against India for one last time. Such is the dominance of these two players against India. They just love batting against India. They score runs with alarming regularity. Cook averages just above 50 with 6 hundreds and 8 fifties to his name in 25 matches. The innings against India at Kolkata in 2012 was the turning point of the series. Root’s numbers are even more staggering. He clearly saves his best for the Indians. He averages 68.88 against India. This is his highest average against any team. He has scored 3 hundreds and 8 fifties in just 11 games. In August, when India plays their first Test Match against England, this consistent duo will be licking their lips at the very thought! They remain one of the main reasons why India will find it difficult in England this year. Bhuvi and co. need to nick them off early. Else, the Indians might be staring down the barrel.

2. India’s No.3 – Struggles in England

Pujara scored only 100 runs in 8 innings in the County Season this year

Cheteshwar Pujara is one of the most consistent batsmen when it comes to batting in the sub-continent. But when India travels overseas, he does not quite make the cut. Kohli and Pujara both performed below par when India went to England in 2014. In the five tests, Pujara scored only 222 runs at an average of 22.22 with only one 50 to his name. What’s more worrying is that he hasn’t been at his best in this county season as well. He had a really poor season as he scored only 100 runs in 8 innings at an average of 12.5. These numbers highlight his struggles in England. If India wants to do well in England, Pujara has to put his hand up and score a lot of runs or else we're gonna be looking at the best batsman in the team, Virat Kohli, coming to the crease with little to nothing on the board.

1. Team Combination – Extra Batsmen or All-Rounder?

India will have to solve the combination problem pretty quickly

This is the biggest question which is going to trouble India as they get ready to tour England. What should be the team combination? If India go in with an extra batsman, who is going to be that extra batsman? Rohit Sharma was tried in South Africa and he didn’t do much to get a place once again. Karun Nair could be an option but he is an inexperienced player and hasn’t played a single test overseas. But India likes to go in with 5 bowlers (including the all-rounder). So if India decides to go in with the all-rounder it has to be Hardik Pandya. But he too didn’t do much in South Africa to keep his place in the XI. If India goes with Hardik Pandya then the keeper’s batting becomes important. Saha then will have to score some crucial runs down the order. He will have to take the extra responsibility of the batting. Considering that Ashwin is a good test batsman, India will go with the all-rounder option. But if India’s top order keeps failing as it did in South Africa then India will find themselves in trouble all over again.

Do you think India will find it hard against the English? What would your squad look like? Have you say. Leave a comment below.