England Tour 2011: 5 Reasons Why India will Beat England At Trent Bridge

India take on England in the second test at Trent Bridge, without Zaheer Khan. Following their win at Lords, England have become favourites for this match, with bookies quoting poor odds of 3:1 on an India victory. With greater expectation weighing on them, the pressure will be on England to deliver. And I think India will level the series at Trent Bridge, for the following five reasons:

1. Number One Rank at Stake:

India will lose their number one test ranking to England, were the hosts to win the series by a margin of two or more. And having lost the first match, it would be imperative for India not to lose the second match, as that would take England a step closer to the coveted number one spot. India have been the best test side in the last few years by a wide margin, especially with the decline of Australia. While England are a much-improved team, they have not been as consistent as India, nor as confident.

2. Dhoni’s Captaincy:

Dhoni is yet to lose a series, as captain, whether in India or abroad, and will be determined to preserve that record. Having come back from 1-0 down in South Africa to level that series and almost win it, Dhoni and India will be confident that they can do it against less daunting rivals, in England. Especially as England don’t have an intimidating bowler in the mould of Steyn.

3. Sachin Tendulkar:

Tendulkar was kept at bay, at Lords, as the little master was struck down by a virus. But the British media have gone overboard in giving their bowlers all the credit, for keeping Tendulkar quiet, at Lords. The master blaster will want to reply his critics in a manner known best to him – by getting runs. In fact, he would want his 100th international century, thereby killing two birds with a proverbial stone.

4. Harbhajan Singh:

In the absence of Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan has become India’s primary strike bowler. Bhajji has not been consistently among the wickets, recently. But he has the happy knack of confounding his crickets when they least expect it. And being the match winner that he is, he will want to do it again, at Trent Bridge.

5. DRS Controversy:

There has been much criticism of India’s reluctance to accept ball-tracking technology for LBW decisions, with the British media and England coach calling for ICC’s intervention. Much noise has been made about how umpire Bowden favoured Tendulkar and Raina, in close LBW decisions, in India’s second innings. The Indian team will want to put the controversy to rest by beating England convincingly.

Tags: Australia, Dhoni, England, EPL, Harbhajan Singh, ICC, India, Sachin, Sachin Tendulkar, South Africa, umpire, Zaheer

Category: Cricket, England Tour