Green grassy tracks our only hope to avoid thorough humiliation?

[Gunner]

Green tracks are our best bet to sneak in a win or two. Most of our handful Overseas Test Victories (for instance, Johannesburg /Perth) have been on seamer-friendly wickets.

[The Realist]

Just winning one test overseas will be an achievement under Dhoni and Fletcher - their record is horrendous. As the legend Ajit Agarkar says they simply don't know how to win away tests: http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/video_audio/756839.html?genre=16

[BeautifulGame]

Binny will save us :yay: Seriously BCCI should bribe the counties and produce a couple of turners so that we can save grace

[SLICKR392]

Will have a better chance at winning a match. Anyhow, forget it! English conditions are nowhere close to what it used to be. May be a hint of swing on the first day and morning sessions, but looking back at the last few series(s), they have been flat. Flat enough for our bowlers to concede 700 every game and their attack to knock us over more often.

[singhprakash72]

Lesson from SL series is to push the match to the 5th day and hope to put pressure on Cook's indecisive captaincy. Having said that India too has never been great in pressure situation, but Dhoni would still trump Cook in that scenario. Another important factor is this been 5 test match series which English are kind of used to (playing Ashes), but none of these Indian players have ever played a 5 test match series .

[Cricket Tragic]

Even if the pitch is flat, you have to bat decently. Which pitches in 2011 were green tops? They were all flat with the exception of Trent Bridge on day 1 and even then we didn't bat first.

[SLICKR392]

Even if the pitch is flat, you have to bat decently. Which pitches in 2011 were green tops? They were all flat with the exception of Trent Bridge on day 1 and even then we didn't bat first.

Batting unit is in a better form this time. We have to worry about the 20 English wickets.

[vvvslaxman]

Is avoiding humiliation = 2 days of rest?

[Cricket Tragic]

Batting unit is in a better form this time. We have to worry about the 20 English wickets.

Even the 2011 batsmen were in good form heading into the series. I agree that 20 wickets will be a challenge (as it always is for us).

[rkt.india]

Even if the pitch is flat, you have to bat decently. Which pitches in 2011 were green tops? They were all flat with the exception of Trent Bridge on day 1 and even then we didn't bat first.

Most of the pitches something for pacers, either movement or good pace or bounce. Thing was more than pitch, ball swung a lot which doesnt depend on surface and the duke ball of 2010 batch swung all day and they reaped benefits. We had PK, an out of shape RP, Ishant who could never swing the ball, Sreesanth who lacked fitness to sustain intensity. Listen here. Even GIles is saying that directives were given to prepare pacey and greener tracks last time. http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/video_audio/757071.html

[Vilander]

One thing to note is Bhuv/Pandey/Shami/ even pankaj created lots of lateral movement in the warmups, you see in a test one can not come out swinging..its just too much risk. Put the very same players who played in the warmups in the first test they will be more circumspect.

[Texan]

I agree. A complete green top where batting is almost impossible is the only hope. It would then depend on which team's batsmen are more lucky and we could just have a chance. If tracks are flat, then we are almost sure to lose.

[Old guy]

we will win this series :om:

[panther]

Series loss for the injustice against pcb been 4 years since we toured UK, and the Weakest sc team abroad get's to go there after 2 years.

[SLICKR392]

Series loss for the injustice against pcb been 4 years since we toured UK' date=' and the Weakest sc team abroad get's to go there after 2 years.[/quote'] The last time Pakistan toured UK, you guys made the headlines.

[BlueBee]

we will win this series :om:

:(( Shyte man