England to get no respite from Indian spin

Ahemdabad, India, December 9: England gear up for another dose of spin hoping to put up a better batting performance in the second cricket Test against India starting here on Tuesday.

"I believe we can score runs against Indian spinners," said England captain Nasser Hussain after having a look at the Sardar Patel Stadium pitch which promises to be spinner-friendly.

England looked clueless against Indian spin in the opening Test at Mohali last week, scoring less than 250 in each innings to lose the match by 10 wickets.

Leg-spinner Anil Kumble and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh never allowed the England batsmen to settle down as they shared 15 wickets to help India gain a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series.

"It looks a low, slow turning wicket," said Hussain. "We will have to show patience against the spinners. We will have to be more disciplined in our shot-selection."

The England skipper and middle-order batsman Graham Thorpe were the only batsmen to show the right temperament and technique to cope with the Indian spin at Mohali.

Hussain was the top-scorer in the first innings with 85 and the left-handed Thorpe in the second with 62.

"Thorpe is the best player of spin in our team, but we need contributions from every batsman," Hussain said. "We want to score as many runs as possible on this wicket. If senior batsmen are well settled, they should score big."

Hussain said he did not believe that all had been lost for his team after a dismal show in the first Test.

"I believe we can win," he said. "Though India have the right batsmen and bowlers for these conditions, we will have to put pressure on them.

"I do not think we have always struggled against spin. We have successfully batted against spinners in Pakistan and Sri Lanka," he said, referring to his team's Test series wins in these countries.

England plan to strengthen their spin department with the inclusion of left-arm spinner Ahsley Giles, who missed the Mohali Test due to a bruised heel.

"I expect him to be fit for the match," he said. "But we will have to wait till tomorrow. He will automatically come into the team if he has regained fitness.

"We need five bowlers, including at least two spinners, in this part of the world," said Hussain, whose team played the first Test with one spinner, Richard Dawson.

Giles played a crucial role in his team's victories against Sri Lanka and Pakistan early this year, having so far taken 26 wickets in eight Tests.

Hussain, however, said his team was not focusing on Indian spinners alone, for India's pace attack could not be underestimated, especially after the return of Javagal Srinath.

The Indian fast bowler, who had suffered a finger injury on the recent South African tour, will open the attack with young Tinu Yohannan who made an impressive four-wicket debut in the first Test.