Duncan Fletcher Expects India to Target England Captain, Andrew Strauss

The Indian coach has firmly shifted allegiance and expects India to fight England in the forthcoming Test series with an eye firmly on the England captain.

Andrew Strauss

There is little doubt that Zaheer Khan has become a troublesome left arm fast bowler for several international batsmen. And Andrew Strauss, the England Test captain is no exception. On the contrary, if anything, perhaps none will be under greater pressure than Strauss himself during the India England Test series.

Duncan Fletcher was the England coach for a long period before taking on another international assignment in the form of the Indian cricket team who are the current no.1 ranked Test team. However, Fletcher clearly is a professional who does not believe in keeping soft corners. As with the popular ideology of Test teams, the captain is often the target of the spearhead bowler and Fletcher, for one, certainly would not mind seeing Strauss sweating it out a bit. The captain’s confidence is often associated with his own individual performance and it would do India no harm to ensure that the captain stays down to put additional pressure on the England cricket team. Strauss in trouble would mean a distraction and India would love that, particularly that the Test status will be on the line when the series gets underway. And England have been itching to prove that their consistency is certainly noteworthy enough to challenge the present no.1 Test team.

Although Strauss was considered something of a talisman for the England team when there were on a Test match winning streak under Michael Vaughan, Strauss’ captaincy did not see his batting suffer initially although lately the England Test captain has been going through something of a rough patch. And naturally the target for opposition team is often the weak link. And perhaps the Indian coach, without undermining Strauss, believes India may have a point to exploit after all early into the tour.

Strauss though would be familiar with the theory of fast bowlers, particularly the lead strike bowler, targeting either the best batsman in the team or the Test captain, the latter being rather popular with the Australian cricket team. Now Fletcher hopes that India can take an early lead into the series if they can get Strauss out cheaply. And in Zaheer Khan, India do have the tools to take the early advantage.

Fletcher though is not taking the England captain lightly, reiterating that batsmen are bound to run into form once more, but that it would be fascinating to see at which point in the Test series Strauss does bounce back because it could have a bearing on the outcome of the Test series. The Indian cricket think tank though would like to see Strauss struggle and squirm because it will give India an early breakthrough and break one of England’s strongholds – the opening partnership with Alastair Cook.

For India, they would not necessarily be putting all their eggs in one basket, but targeting Strauss will certainly not escape their notice given that the England captain would be just as eager to run back into form and particularly in front of home crowds in a series he himself equates with the Ashes. Strauss will also know that he will be targeted as the opener and as the Test captain and undoubtedly will be doubling his efforts before the series to give himself the best chance. So, who will draw first blood?