A little over three years ago — which, incidentally, was the last time India lost two successive Tests in a series — a besieged team travelled to Canberra.
That it turned up at all was major news: the tour of Australia was in danger, and the local journalists that had gathered were the serious sort that thought nothing of wearing their finest suits and hopping onto the Prime Minister's airplane. But despite the weight of the situation, India found release during the practice match and later went on to register a famous win at Perth.
“Going to Canberra was a good thing for us,” Anil Kumble, the then captain, said later. “It was a good opportunity to get away from the real pressures of a Test match. We focused all our efforts on the game. We needed to think positively and the kind of bonding we had was special.”
Same situation
India finds itself in not dissimilar circumstances — and at a ground Kumble knows rather well, having played for Northamptonshire in 1995 and topped the county season's bowling charts with 105 wickets. Sure, the series isn't as embittered — although it had a chance to be — but India's need for succour is just as desperate.
Virender Sehwag is a good man to welcome back in times like these. He made a 78-ball 113 in the game at Canberra and returned to the side at Perth after missing the first two Tests. He said after the innings that he got “everything back” — a statement that showed just how important lowly practice matches in the middle of a tour can sometimes be.
Steady drizzle
Sehwag had his first session of the tour on Thursday morning after arriving in England on Wednesday.
The Indians were forced indoors by a steady drizzle, and Sehwag made a dramatic entrance, parting the curtains to enter the fast-bowlers' area, separated from the adjoining synthetic wickets by what seemed like sheets of gauze.
Sehwag settled quickly. Although he was initially late on a couple of cuts — the bowlers were delivering from 18 yards — he soon found better rhythm.
He appeared to be picking up both the length and the swing early. He then switched to facing throw-downs. Short balls were interspersed with half-volleys to ensure the batsman's balance was right.
The vital signs were good: Sehwag looks batting-ready, the surgically-repaired shoulder doesn't seem to be troubling him, but his match-fitness needs testing.
Gautam Gambhir, who missed the second Test with a bruised elbow, looked ready as well. He bantered with Sehwag before requesting, as he usually does, for another batch of throw-downs. Also asking for a second set was M.S. Dhoni, who hardly laid a bat on one during his time with the fast-bowlers; he left many, but played and missed a fair few.
Zaheer Khan, another Indian cricketer over whom looms the cloud of injury, looked the closest he has to his usual bowling self since leaving the field at Lord's. It is learnt that he could test his fitness in the two-day match starting Friday, perhaps trying two spells of four overs each to see how he handles both the workload and returning for a spell.
The others at Thursday's optional session were Sachin Tendulkar, who worked with a tennis ball thrown from a spoon-like contraption that whips through, Suresh Raina, Praveen Kumar, who tried a few in-swingers from four steps, Amit Mishra, and Wriddhiman Saha. Munaf Patel and V.V.S. Laxman were at the ground, but not at nets.
Seam-friendly track
The pitch here is expected to be seam-friendly and the opposition, Northamptonshire, currently leads the second division championship.
No one is certain who the county will field, but it has among its ranks, former international cricketers in Andrew Hall and Chaminda Vaas, and current ones in South African off-spinner Johan Botha and Ireland wicketkeeper-batsman Niall O'Brien.
Critical question
The critical question for India is: who'll bowl? Ishant Sharma and Praveen Kumar have done enough for four men.
With Pragyan Ojha yet to arrive (on Thursday), the only other specialist bowlers in the squad are Sreesanth, Munaf, and Mishra.
Another unknown is the format. There was no official word, but the speculation is that it will be a two-innings 96-overs-a-side match.
Coach Duncan Fletcher was seen having an animated discussion with bowling coach Eric Simons during practice about the format; he appeared not to be happy about it.
The squads (from):
Northamptonshire: Andrew Hall (capt.), Niall O'Brien (wk), Gavin Baker, Johan Botha, Tom Brett, Jack Brooks, Lee Daggett, Luke Evans, Ben Howgego, Mal Loye, David Lucas, James Middlebrook, David Murphy, Rob Newton, Stephen Peters, David Sales, Chaminda Vaas, Alex Wakely, Rob White, and David Willey
Indians: M.S. Dhoni (capt.), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir (vice-capt.), Abhinav Mukund, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, V.V.S. Laxman, Suresh Raina, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Sreesanth, Praveen Kumar, Munaf Patel, Amit Mishra, and Wriddhiman Saha.
