Fletcher: Inexperience makes for excitement

India are in England ahead of a five-Test series against the Three Lions, and visiting coach Duncan Fletcher feels his side's inexperience could be a positive thing, and make for an exciting series.
India are in England ahead of a five-Test series against the Three Lions, and visiting coach Duncan Fletcher feels his side's inexperience could be a positive thing, and make for an exciting series.
The squad has three uncapped players in Ishwar Pandey, Pankaj Singh and Stuart Binny, while only skipper MS Dhoni, paceman Ishant Sharma, and opening bat Gautam Gambhir have played a series in the UK before.
But Fletcher is certain his young team will be able to do well against the hosts, especially as they're at a bit of a low ebb at the moment, and that they will fight extra hard to prove their worth.
Fletcher said: "Without making excuses it is a very, very inexperienced side: If you look at how many Tests our opening batters have played, how many Tests our No. 3 has played, how many Tests our bowlers have played.
"But it is nice sometimes, because being unpredictable they will play some exciting cricket. There are some very, very exciting cricketers in this group who would go on to be very, very good cricketers for India.
"They might fire from this series and there will be some very, very good cricket played."
Skipper Dhoni agreed that their experience levels in England were not high, but felt that they had given themselves enough time to get used to conditions, what with tour matches and other previous games in the UK.
He said: "It's always good to have players who have played in the scenario before but as I've said it's a team that doesn't have too many players in it that have played in England.
"The good thing is a lot of them have played some kind of cricket in England. There are quite a few who were part of the Champions Trophy. There are quite a few who have played in England in other leagues, not just the counties, under-age cricket, maybe the Under-19s.
"All that really helps but it will be important for those players who have not played too many games to get used to the conditions really quickly. We're here 15 to 20 days before the first Test so that will obviously help."
Dhoni added that he was not at all underestimating England on the back of their defeat to Sri Lanka: "What you assess is how good a side the opposition is, and I still think England are a fantastic side, which means it will be a tough competition for us.
"They know the home conditions better than us. It's a long series, five Test matches followed by five ODIs and one T20. Playing a series with five Test matches is something that's entirely new for us. But overall I think it will be really good."
Latest
-
News
James Anderson lands key wicket but Niroshan Dickwella fights on
England’s record wicket-taker was immediately on the hunt again, finding sharp movement off the pitch to remove Mathews in his first over.
-
News
On this day in 2016: Shivnarine Chanderpaul announces international retirement
Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 2008, the West Indies batsman became only the second player to make a double century in his first Test as captain.
-
News
Sri Lanka v England Day One: Anderson and Mathews vie for control in Galle
James Anderson returned figures of three for 24.
-
News
James Anderson reveals nerves on Test return
The England seamer added to his 600 wickets as Sri Lanka finished day one on 229 for four in Galle.
-
News
Alex Hales hits blistering Big Bash century
Hales has been in international exile since a second recreational drug test failure on the eve of England’s triumphant World Cup campaign.
-
News
Angelo Mathews century repels England after James Anderson’s three-wicket burst
The 38-year-old finished with exemplary figures of three for 24 on a surface offering precious little encouragement.
-
News
Shubman Gill learned backfoot game with ‘1500 short balls every day’
Shubman Gill impressed with his technique against short-pitch bowling, and his father has said he honed those skills during practice.
-
News
Sri Lanka steady ship after James Anderson takes three wickets in Galle
The home side reached 155 for three at tea, with England’s record wicket-taker responsible for all three dismissals.
-
News
CSA confident Australia tour will go ahead
CSA is confident the scheduled Australia tour to the country will take place despite the increasing number of Covid-19 cases in South Africa
-
News
James Anderson at the double on day one in Galle
Sri Lanka may have feared a repeat of their dismal 135 all out from last week.