Four decades after a clutch of West Indian fast bowlers terrified batsmen used to the gentle seam of Indian domestic cricket, the Duleep Trophy sees another group of foreigners — this time, playing as a team. The England Cricket Academy side have already proved themselves, and their opponents are happy that they are here.‘‘This experiment should definitely help us,’’ said Aakash Chopra. ‘‘We’ll have the chance to bowl to and bat against different players instead of playing against the same players match after match. That can become monotonous.’’Plans are already afoot to send a team from India — India ‘A’ or under-19 — to play in the English county season in the near future, on a reciprocal basis.The visitors have welcomed the opportunity to play here. Despite losing all three one-day matches against an India A team on the first phase of their tour, England A have put up a better display in their first match in the Duleep Trophy, against South Zone at the TERI Oval in Gurgaon.‘‘Most of our team haven’t played international cricket. The squad has talent and this tournament gives them enough opportunities to realise their potential,’’ said coach Rod Marsh. ‘‘The youngsters are delighted with the opportunity, they have a chance to prove that they have the ability and temperament to play at the highest level. We’ll certainly return home as better players.’’The team is a typical English blend of pacers, swing bowlers and spinners. ‘‘Some of our top-order batsmen will be keen to exhibit their talent and to force their way into the English side,’’ said Marsh.The two internationals, Ed Smith and Simon Jones, are intriguing characters. Smith is a double-first in history from Cambridge who has visited India a couple of times earlier and has written a book comparing cricket and baseball.Jones has something unique. Both he and his father Jeff (also a fast bowler) made their Test debut against India. The father played his first Test in 1963 while the son (now 24) did likewise in 2002. Jeff Jones took 44 wickets in 15 Tests.Some players have already struck rich form. Nottinghamshire’s Kevin Pietersen scored a century in each innings against South and a hundred in one of the one-dayers against India A. One for the future, was the consensus at the Teri Oval.Marsh, an England selector, said the main philosophy of the academy — which he heads — was to identify and select talented cricketers in the 19-23 age group, develop them through coaching and support services in order for them to achieve their potential. ‘‘Before 2007, 95 per cent of England players would have been through the Academy structure,’’ Marsh said.What has probably helped the English side is the wicket at the Teri Oval, on which Jones generated a fair bit of pace. However, though the grass would have helped both sides, the South Zone bowlers failed to take advantage. A point taken up by Venkat Sundaram, head of the BCCI pitches committee. ‘‘It’s not enough that you invite a foreign team for participation in our tournaments. We must provide suitable playing conditions. The lively wicket at Teri is an example of what a true track should be like,’’ he said.
