Time to start afresh

He shouldered arms to the query and moved on to the next question. Dhoni has been credited with changing the fabric of Indian cricket,but this is one flaw he had failed to iron out. Adapting to the conditions early isnt a trait that the World No. 1 Test side can flaunt.

In the last two away tours West Indies and South Africa the Indians had fumbled their lines as the curtain went up for the series. Both times,it was all downhill after winning the toss. The Indians were 69/4 at lunch in Kingston last month and 136 all out in Centurion last year.

Incidentally,the backdrop of the South African series was similar to the one that starts on Thursday. The India-South Africa contest was also hyped equally,if not more,as the No.1 vs No.2,Indias batting vs South Africas bowling battle. While the heads of the two teams stared down from giant billboards,head-to-head numbers dominated TV discussions. But when the first match started,the batsmen,with mountains of runs behind them,were soon chasing the ball while fielding,having lasted a little beyond the first session. Pacers Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel had pricked the over-blown hype. The Indians went on to lose the Test by an innings and found themselves playing catch up in the series that was eventually drawn.

At the England nets,there were a few sights that suggested a Centurion repeat at Lords might be on the cards. Stuart Broad,who is said to be the weak link of the England pace attack,was seen in great rhythm as he bowled alongside the towering Chris Tremlett. On the adjoining practice pitch,James Anderson was troubling the England batsmen. And there was also off-spinner Graeme Swann who would let out a war cry ever time he beat the bat.

As if this formidable attack is not enough,the overcast conditions will present India an additional challenge should they bat first.

Another truism about this Indian side under Dhoni,however,is that they routinely defy the odds that are stacked against them.

Andrew Strauss on Wednesday acknowledged that his rivals had shown far more consistency in away games of late,adding that his team were aware of the challenge they were facing. The first day will show whether the Class of 2011 has been able to get over an old weakness.

Bowlers hold key

Interestingly,when Indian bowlers have got the opportunity to have an early go,the results have been better. During the opening Test of the 2009 India-New Zealand series,the visitors opted to field. The Kiwis were 60/6 in the second session as Zaheer Khan,Ishant Sharma and Munaf Patel exploited the conditions. India went on to the win the game by 10 wickets.

The pace troika is in England and the greenish tinge to the Lords pitch considered flat by the English standards might make them nostalgic. In all likelihood,Praveen Kumar,and not Munaf,will be the third pacer at Lords,but still they have the credentials to make the rival batsmen lose sleep on the match eve.

Zaheers success in England is well-documented while the slope at Lords will add a degree of difficulty to Sharmas in-cutters. As for Praveen,his ability to control his swing has been impressive.

So what do the pacers need to do to give the traditional slow starters a flying start? They need to stick to the basics and enjoy the game, Dhoni would have said.

Tendulkar prepares for first Test by facing 18-yr-old girl

Chasing a century of international tons,Sachin Tendulkar warmed up on the eve of the historic Lord8217;s Test by facing an 18-year-old girl from north London. Tendulkar faced Raveena Lakhtaria,an A-level student and a young cricketer,who plays for Middlesex and the England women8217;s academy.

Tendulkar is an honorary life member of the MCC,a status which entitles him to ask for the club8217;s help with his preparations for the England tour. Lakhtaria is on an MCC young cricketer8217;s scholarship and her ambition is to play for England,but given her Indian roots,has only one hero: Sachin Tendulkar. 8220;Bowling to a master has boosted my confidence. Now I have done that I feel I can bowl at anybody without any fear whatsoever,8221; Lakhtaria was quoted as saying by The Telegraph. 8220;It was great to be bowling at him and he gave me a lot of tips,8221; she said. 8220;He told me about how to bowl when the wicket is not helping,what to do if it is spinning a lot,when to use the shiny side and it was really good to have someone like that giving me advice. It was a great experience and I am very lucky.8221;

MCC asks ladies to dress appropriately

Women members of MCC have been asked to dress appropriately for the historic Lord8217;s Test between India and England. Some male members of the MCC have apparently expressed their displeasure at the sight of women in jeans and showing 8216;toe cleavage8217; at the pavilion. Fifty women have been granted membership of the exclusive club since a ban on them was overturned in 1999,but now some of the 18,000 male members are said to be disgruntled,reported the Daily Mail. The MCC dress code demands ladies to wear dresses; or skirts or trousers worn with blouses. Dresses and blouses may be sleeveless. The wearing of Fancy Dress costumes and oversized hats inside the Ground is prohibited.8221;