For Indian cricketers, England has always been one of the toughest countries to play red-ball cricket in. With conditions at home being mor...
For Indian cricketers, England has always been one of the toughest countries to play red-ball cricket in. With conditions at home being more favourable to spin and pitches keeping comparatively low, Indian touring teams have, over the decades, struggled to get accustomed to the swing and carry on offer in England.
India have played 18 Test series in England and emerged victorious on just three occasions (1971, 1986 and 2007), with 14 of those series won by the hosts and one (2002) ending in a draw.
Since 1932, India have played a total of 62 Tests in England and won just seven of those matches, with the hosts winning 34 and 21 being draws.
When playing Test cricket in England, the bigger challenge may well be for batsmen but there are a number of adjustments that the bowlers need to make as well. Unlike in India where spinners tend to run the show, red-ball games in England usually require pace-heavy attacks.
The fast bowlers need to move the ball in the right areas and deliver long spells. While spinners, too, need to adjust their speed and length.
As India’s Test record in England indicates, victories have been hard to come by over the years. Having said that, there have been...
