ENG vs IND 2018: The First 20-25 Overs Will be Extremely Crucial - Ravi Shastri

Team India is in some red-hot form and hopes to put up an inspired performance in the five-match Test series against England starting on 1^st August.

The Men in Blue had had some horrendous tours to England in 2011 and 2014. In 2011, they lost by a 4-0 margin, while the 2014 series finished 3-1 in favour of England.

It is for the first time that India had finished the limited-overs series against their opponents in the overseas conditions. Hence, they are well prepared for the tour and has already played enough cricket in English conditions.

White ball and red ball cricket are two different propositions. However, the experience of spending time in England will be of huge advantage. Indian head coach, Ravi Shastri feels it is indeed a big advantage to have experienced players who have played in England earlier.

Many of the current members of the Test team had prepared very well by playing County Cricket. Hence, they should be in good stead ahead of the series.

During an exclusive interview with the ESPN Cricinfo, Shastri was asked whether spending enough time in England will help them in the upcoming series.

“A lot of players have been to England before. A lot of them have learned a lot in the last few years, playing as a unit. I see that as a big advantage as opposed to coming with a brand new side,” he said.

It has been the hottest summer in England for a long time. Therefore, the conditions have been quite dry, as it will give the Indian spinners an edge in the Test series.

Kuldeep Yadav and Ravichandran Ashwin might well be the two spinners starting proceedings for India in Birmingham. However, Ravi Shastri feels the conditions won’t be the same.

Conditions will be different in England feels Shastri 

“Not really. The square will be different, the outfield will be different, and the weather conditions will be different to back in India. But whatever the conditions, the balls move in England. In South Africa, we played on some spicy tracks. We have to adapt to those 22 yards. We adapted better than South Africa in Johannesburg, and we won that Test. They won a couple of sessions more than us in the first two Tests and won two Tests,” the head coach said.

He further added a start of 25-30 should get converted into a big partnership. Shastri said this had been a trait which the team has learnt from the South Africa tour.

It is always important to play out the opening burst of the bowlers. Shastri feels it is a must everywhere and not only when they are facing the likes of James Anderson and Stuart Broad.

“That is a must anywhere you go overseas, especially England, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. The first 20-25 overs are extremely crucial. If you can come through that period [unscathed], then you get a set a good platform. Understanding your role, understanding what the team needs in those 20 overs, the discipline needed to see off those 20 overs and make sure you lose as few wickets as possible. Then you set up the game because we have enough ammunition in the middle order and lower order to take the game forward,” he added.