Beating India means more than winning Down Under, says Alec Stewart

 
8 November 2012

Former England captain Alec Stewart believes a Test series win over India — whatever the scoreline — would be their greatest achievement as a team and comfortably eclipse the 3-1 Ashes success in Australia last year.

England begin their four-Test encounter in India a week on Thursday bidding for a first Test series success there for 27 years.

Speaking at the launch of the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy, Stewart said: “If England win the series in India, it will go down ahead of winning the Ashes in Australia under Andrew Strauss 18 months or so ago. It’s probably the hardest achievement in Test cricket if you look at the record books.

“Even if England come back having drawn the series, that would go down as a very good tour of India. There’s no tougher Test series — it’s as tough as it comes — and India just don’t tend to lose at home so will start as favourites. In addition, they’ll want revenge for that 4-0 defeat in England 15 months ago.”

Whatever the outcome, Stewart also believes the four matches could prove historic as potentially the last in Test cricket for Sachin Tendulkar.

“He’s among the cricketing Gods in India,” said Stewart.

“And there could be extra motivation for India in that this could be his last Test series. Plus it has the Duncan Fletcher factor, who as India’s coach and a former England coach, will want to make his mark.”

England have had a mixed build-up to the series but Stewart, who made 133 Test appearances for his country, believes they have rarely been better prepared following a camp in Abu Dhabi and three warm-up matches.

Stewart, with experience of touring India, said it was “a series like no other” and that the key to a victory for the tourists lay in their individual ability.

“Playing in India is tough,” he added. “Even as tourists, you’re made to feel like heroes, crowds gather everywhere you go and, in the matches, the stands are just so passionate.

“But England need to forget all of that and just back their own ability. They need to each break down what they have to do and be fully aware of their strengths and weaknesses.”

England’s selectors face some key decisions over their line-up. Nick Compton and Joe Root are battling it out to open the batting alongside captain Alastair Cook.

Until Compton’s latest knock, the pair had looked unconvincing on the sub-continent and Stewart said their selection would go down to the final warm-up match, which starts in Ahmedabad on Thursday.

“I don’t think a decision has been made yet — it’s that close — and I think it will rest on who’s in the best current form in that third and final tour match,” added Stewart.

“Coming into this series, you would have said Nick Compton was first choice after the year he’s had in county cricket but the two guys are very contrasting. Nick’s an experienced player and a run builder, while Joe Root’s the exciting up-and-coming talent. Picking which one will open is a tough call. It’s real toss of the coin stuff.”

Whoever makes their Test debut out of that pair, Stewart pointed out that England’s batting focus would once more be on Kevin Pietersen, suggesting the returning batsman, back in the line-up following the protracted saga over the texts he sent during the South African series this summer, would be the key.

“England need to pick their best players and Kevin Pietersen is England’s best player,” said Stewart. “So, I’m very pleased that he’s back playing after how messy it all got.

“As a bowler, there are just some players you don’t want to bowl against. Of my era, that was probably Brian Lara, Adam Gilchrist and Sachin Tendulkar.

“KP’s in that mould and India would have been hoping he would have stayed at home rather than tour.

“He’s just one of those remarkable talents who can change the direction of an entire Test match in just two hours.”

See the best teams in one-day international cricket take part in the ICC Champions Trophy in June 2013. Tickets for The Oval, Cardiff and Edgbaston are now on sale at icc-cricket.com or via 0844 2492013.

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