Seventy-five and counting

It's been seventy-five years since India played her ever first test against Douglas Jardine's Englishmen at Lords. Today, they return to where it all began to kick off a series which promises much. Tradition, for all the baggage it sometimes weighs the game down with, is integral to cricket so it's a little disappointing to note that the BCCI has done little to celebrate the occasion. A felicitation or gathering of former captains, as was the case in Australia to mark anniversaries of the first tied test, would have done nicely. Still, it's a happy coincidence that the ICC has ensured India are be touring the Old Blighty this year.

Many Indian supporters would have liked to see the match begin on the 25th of June, the day India was born as a test nation and the day of the World Cup triumph as well. It is an unrealistic expectation with the cricket calendar being what it is but it's frustrating to note that India were instead playing some meaningless one dayers in Ireland at the time. Even more perplexing was the idea of the Friendship Cup mooted by Prince Charles; an invitation to India and Pakistan to play a 'special' one-day match in Glasgow to celebrate sixty years of independence. Tradition isn't what it used to be. I think we can safely say there will be no more Jubilee tests, which might suit those Indian supporters who actually care just fine; those who were around to see the 1980 test in Bombay would prefer to forget the defeat Ian Botham single-handedly inflicted on Vishwanath's men.

On to the series. Against my better judgement I predict a one-nil result in India's favour. With the series being staged in the second half of the season, India's middle order might well be in their element. In the absence of the entire Ashes winning quartet of 2005, India's seam attack enjoys a slight advantage in the experience stakes. It could well come down to the battle of the spinners on the traditionally dry Oval pitch. Kumble's role in the Headingley 2002 victory comes to mind, though whether he will get Harbhajan-like support from Pawar remains to be seen. Monty Panesar was fairly impressive on debut in India a year-and-a-half ago, and it will be interesting to see if Vaughan persists with him as an attacking bowler. England remain organised and confident as ever at home where they haven't surrended a series since the 2001 Ashes. The advent of rookies like Alistair Cook, Matt Prior and Ryan Sidebotton (the latter coming good after six years in the wilderness) is a fair indication of the depth they possess, but a series victory in the face of injuries to several key bowlers will be a real achievement.