Gaji
England's inclusive triumph at Lord's, with a presentation hail by their captain as "outstanding", has put them one step closer to the much-desired No. 1 spot in the ICC Test rankings. Some are already proclaim them the best team in the world, irrespective of what the rankings say. Others suggest they aren't yet, and that judgment should be withheld waiting later in the series, given India's extraordinary knack of bouncing back after defeats in series-openers.
An injury-hit India presents England with a great opportunity to settle the discuss. MS Dhoni's side is crippled by the loss of arguably their most powerful player, Zaheer Khan, due to a hamstring problem.
What will make it inferior is if Gautam Gambhir, who is still getting better from a blow to the prod he took in the first Test, joins the wound list. While India at least have a couple of back-up quick bowlers to choose from to restore Zaheer, Gambhir's nonappearance could end up offensive the batting pattern. One of three makeshift openers will have to be employed - Yuvraj Singh, Rahul Dravid or Wriddhiman Saha - and the knowledgeable middle order, India's biggest strength, could be exposed early to the swinging ball.
England start as favorites in Trent Bridge, but as India have frequently shown, they are a astonishingly flexible side, frequently managing to get around problems caused by their moderately weak bowling line-up. Can they do it once again?
Form guide (most recent first)
England WDDWW
India LDDWD
In the spotlight
Harbhajan Singh's place in the XI has not often come under the scanner, particularly after his ascension to the lead spinner's role after the departure of Anil Kumble nearly three years ago. Now, though, question is being asked after a run-of-the-mill presentation in the Caribbean was followed up with a 1 for 218 at Lord's. While the track for the first Test didn't offer much for the spinners, Harbhajan's incapability to keep the runs down hurt a Zaheer-less India. He needs three more caps to complete 100 Tests; a landmark he may not reach in this series if not he turns his form around.
At Trent Bridge four years ago, Matt Prior's career hit one of its lows when he faces a volley of criticism for the notorious jelly bean saga. Now he returns to the venue highly praised by some as the best Test wicketkeeper-batsman in the world. With four centuries in the past year and an average that has soared to the mid-forties, prior has made quite a persuasive case.
Team news
The most established side in world cricket, England's only apprehension is the hamstring problem that is troubling their tall fast bowler Chris Tremlett. Andrew Strauss is certain Tremlett will be fit to play but even if he isn't, there's a ready replacement in Tim Bresnan. The rest of the XI is certain picks.
England 1 Alastair Cook, 2 Andrew Strauss (capt), 3 Jonathan Trott, 4 Kevin Pietersen, 5 Ian Bell, 6 Eoin Morgan, 7 Matt Prior (wk), 8 Graeme Swann, 9 Stuart Broad, 10 Chris Tremlett/Tim Bresnan, 11 James Anderson
India has more to ponder. The good news for Indian fans is Sachin Tendulkar has improved from the viral fever that concerned him in the first Test. The bad news is that Zaheer is out and Gambhir could join him on the sidelines. Sreesanth is probable to get his first Test since Cape Town six months ago, and Yuvraj Singh could get yet another shot at stimulating his Test career.
India 1 Abhinav Mukund, 2 Gautam Gambhir/Yuvraj Singh, 3 Rahul Dravid, 4 Sachin Tendulkar, 5 VVS Laxman, 6 Suresh Raina, 7 MS Dhoni (capt & wk), 8 Harbhajan Singh, 9 Praveen Kumar, 10 Ishant Sharma, 11 Sreesanth
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