HYDERABAD: "Beasts." That's the word Ben Stokes used to describe India's Test match record at home. It's well documented. The last time they lost a series was in 2012. Since then, the hosts have been utterly dominant. You can say that they are immovable object in the sport's longest format in these conditions.
The Indian side have passed some seemingly stern exams on paper with flying colours. They had a scare against Australia in 2017 when the Steve Smith-led side won the opening game and were ahead in a live final rubber before the spin duo of R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja triggered a collapse in the third innings. That was the last time the hosts went into a final Test without an unassailable lead. It perfectly captures their superiority. It also explains why Stokes used that word.
But this England team have something about them. Bazball has been a breath of fresh air because of the relentless positive messaging this side has indulged in. Previous England sides — especially the one that came to these shores in 2021 — had a more dour personality. They had a 'bat once, bat big' mentality. They managed to do it once and won a Test. But they were found wanting on some fruity pitches. The one under Stokes and McCullum will not die wondering. They will give themselves the best chance in every match. Even if it means going away from 60 years worth of history. They did that as they named a XI with just one seamer, the first time they have done that since 1962. "India are absolute beasts in home conditions, there is no doubt about that," Stokes said on Wednesday. "We understand and respect that as a team but it presents us with an opportunity. This team loves opportunities. We take every opportunity and run towards it, (we) do not back away from anything."
That's true. Since their bum-clenching, awe-inspiring, thrill-a-minute win over New Zealand in 2022 (inaugural match of this regime), where they chased down more than 150 runs in the last session on the fifth day, they have set several batting records.
Here's a sample. Since June 2022 — when Stokes-McCullum came together as a pair — no team scores as quickly as England (4.82 runs per over, next best is Australia at 3.49). They have also married high risk batting with admirable execution; on average, they lose a wicket every 39 runs, the best by a couple of runs. For perspective, India (it has to be noted that they have tended to play a lot of their games on tricky wickets at home) have scored 3.4 runs every over at an average of 32.4 in this period.
The temptation, then, is to bill this series as unstoppable force v. immovable object. India's spinners will keep coming at them. The England batters will keep going without worrying about the consequences of their actions. "The kind of cricket they have been playing is amazing," Ashwin had noted at the BCCI awards function on Tuesday. "With this wonderful brand of cricket that they are playing and the way they have come here and that fearless approach... I'm standing here without knowing what to expect. That's the beauty of Test cricket."
The one thing to safely expect is turn, lots of it. Most overseas batters — and several Indians — have failed to tackle the exaggerated spin. The exception to the rule has been Rohit Sharma, the only player to have hit two Test tons in India since 2021. "You have to be very clear in your mind," he said when asked about the secrets of batting on these kinds of surfaces. "You need to have a gameplan and then back it, whether it's defending tightly or playing a few shots or playing sweeps or reverse sweeps. You need to understand your own strengths." At some level, this is what Bazball is all about. Batters backing themselves against the opposition bowlers.
While England know the 'challenge' that lies ahead of them — a word all the members in their camp have used in the last week or so — the hosts aren't willing to go down the hubris road. "Not at all," was Rohit's answer when he was asked if they feel unbeatable at home. "End of the day, this is sport. There is a possibility that you can lose as well and that's what happens in any sport. Whatever record we have in the last decade or so is not a guarantee that we are going to win. We want to think that (also). If we do not step up or or if we do not show up, we are going to find ourselves in trouble. We want to try and do whatever is possible in that particular session, on that particular day..."
While R Ashwin, Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja make India favourites, in isolation, the visitors can profit. This Indian side is one in transition, especially in the batting department. Yashasvi Jaiswal is in his first full season. They go into a Test without any of Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara or Virat Kohli in well over a decade. Keeper KS Bharat struggled for runs in the Australian series. Shubman Gill is still waiting for a 'look-at-me-I-have-arrived' performance in this format.
If that trend continues, the tourists will have a small window. Recent history, though, shows that India will be the team to beat.
India (probable): Rohit, Jaiswal, Gill, Rahul, Shreyas/Patidar, Jadeja, Ashwin, Bharat, Axar/Kuldeep, Bumrah, Siraj.
England (announced): Crawley, Duckett, Pope, Root, Bairstow, Stokes, Foakes, Ahmed, Hartley, Wood, Leach.
