Swann Reckons England’s Top Six Batsmen Better than India’s

On paper it would appear that the wealth in India’s batting would test the best batting line ups currently in the world, including that of England’s. However, perhaps as a matter of provocation or out of genuine belief, the England spinner reckons England’s top six Test batsmen have a better reputation than India’s.

Graeme Swann, Andrew Strauss

Graeme Swann is certainly itching for a debate when he has boldly claimed that England have the better line up of the two teams ahead of the first Test of the India England series at Lord’s. The statistical records would show that between Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and V.V.S. Laxman alone, India would have a formidable bowling line up. With the addition of the likes of the Indian captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag, India’s top six become a daunting proposition fro all opposition teams. The absence of Sehwag due to injury would have weakened the opening slot in that a newcomer will occupy the role, but it still makes for a challenging batting line up that will test bowling attacks anywhere in the world.

But Swann believes that England have the wherewithal to not only see off India but out bat India in terms of current talent and ability. Undoubtedly in Andrew Strauss, the England Test captain, and Alastair Cook, England have an ideal platform from their two openers. In Jonathan Trott, they have fought a sublimely prolific no.3 since the Ashes of 2009. Although Kevin Pietersen appears to be struggling, he is a big match player. Ian Bell has made a comeback while Eoin Morgan is promising young talent, contrasted in the Indian team by Suresh Raina.

However, Swann is confidently and rather boldly asserting that England have the better of the two teams. He certainly thinks England can give India more than a run for their money because most of the England cricketers are voicing, as they rightly should, that they are confident that they can not only beat India but also, get close to the no.1 Test team tag.

It is hard to imagine any line up will look better than India’s particularly when one weighs the fact that Sachin Tendulkar is part of the line up. However, in the context of cricket, the team game demands a cohesive batting force which basically means have the top six specialist batsmen who can do the job. But England can take credit from the fact that while India have been holding their own in the position of no.1, England have been the steadiest of the rest of the cricket world in catching up to India over the past eighteen months and with back to back Ashes under their belt, it is only natural that England would feel buoyant. Arguably that is the only way they can progress in the series if they are to prove more than competitive. The edge in confidence is also lent by the fact that England are playing on home turf and while India have had the better of them in the past two series, England feel more confident of their team which reflects in the conversation.