The focus is back on the Big Four

Nothing Thing appears to be a 8216;part of the process8217; for this Indian team any more. During the time of Greg Chappell, this phrase...

Nothing appears to be a 8216;part of the process8217; for this Indian team any more. During the time of Greg Chappell, this phrase, his ideas and innovations had created a maze of excitement around the team. The general hawk eye view kept every member of the side buried in the thought that he was in a process of continuous learning. All that seems to have suddenly vanished.

At Lord8217;s, where the Indian team prepares to play its first big Test after Greg Chappell put in his papers, the mindset seems to have returned to more or less what it had been before the Chappell era. The focus is back on the Big Four 8212; Dravid, Tendulkar, Ganguly and Laxman 8212;there is talk about the mighty Indian batting line-up having to take charge.

The debate of the bowling is restricted8212;four is most likely. Zaheer Khan, for that much-needed experience and incision on English wickets, and probably once again tag Anil Kumble as the only match-winner India has had with the ball over the last many years.

Also, Mahendra Singh Dhoni8217;s fiery strokeplay 8212; regardless of his poor 8216;keeping8212;is expected to keep Yuvraj Singh at bay once again.

Little is being discussed about the option of having a new face in the eleven tomorrow8212;likely four bowlers and seven batsmen, all tried and tested 8212; though Dravid doesn8217;t confirm it.

The easiest available option to make history here is to try and get lucky with the toss, elect to bat, set a big total, and then bowl out England twice. Can India do it? Or will they again look to Tendulkar8217;s contribution, or wait and see if Dravid can remind us of that Headingley feeling.

Also look at Laxman8217;s who signed up for Lancashire today chances of coming up with another special, not to talk about hoping that Kumble runs through with the ball as soon as it loses its shine.

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These men are under tremendous pressure to get going once again. Indians don8217;t have a choice either.

All of this, and the expectation of winning here at Lord8217;s is all that is currently playing on the Indian minds.

Dravid can take a good lesson from the last Test India played here: England won the toss, batted first and rattled 487 that paved the way for a 170-run win. They could also reel back to the Test in 1996 when Ganguly and Dravid made their debut here: Azharuddin won the toss but put England in to bat. The match was drawn, England batting for a day and-a-half to put up 344.

More than just statistics though, it will be about how they go out and play. Dravid is candid when he says 8220;experience doesn8217;t count for anything. Everyone starts on a zero8221; 8212; though it could be debated on how much of that applies to this Indian team.

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It8217;s all laid out for this India, the way it had always been since Ganguly had first taken over as skipper 8211; the perpetual expectation of a Laxman-like 281 or a typical Dravid-Sachin partnership saving or making the day. Once again the Indian team is an army of 11 with three or four generals.

The rest may fight or succumb but they8217;re certainly not expected to win the war.

Dravid is the man in charge but it would be appropriate to mention that he8217;s having a lot more to handle here than just his own form or the team combination. The lack of a coach 8212; rather a motivating individual at the helm 8212; seems to have inflicted a serious lack of foresight into this team.

India may win this Test. And to give it to them, they have the talent. The pitch looks like a belter for the team that bats first, once the conditions ease out.

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India haven8217;t won a Test here since June, 1986. However, they can be rest assured that this will be a one-off, a battle of individuals that is bound to leave them with more questions in future.

Live on Star Cricket 3:30 pm onwards

INDIA-ENGLAND TEST ENCOUNTERS

BIGGEST WINS

England: By innings and 285 runs, Lord8217;s 1974

India: By innings and 46 runs, Leeds 2002

HIGHEST INNINGS TOTALS

England in England: 653/4 dec at Lord8217;s 1990

England in India: 652/7 dec at Chennai 1984-85

India in England: 628/8 dec at Leeds 2002

India in India: 591 at Mumbai 1992-93

LOWEST INNINGS TOTALS

England in England: 101 at The Oval 1971