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England batting needs to stand up

Going with a depleted bowling attack which doesn't have Harmy, Freddie and Hoggy, the onus is now on the batting line-up to come to England's rescue. Captain Michael Vaughan had a fantastic series against the Indians the last time in 2002 and he will have to be the chief architect of the English innings. The surprise package that England have is Alastair Cook, who has achieved a lot of success in  very short time at the International level. Then there is the threat of Kevin Pietersen for the Indian bowlers. A man who can shatter the confidence of any bowler with his pyrotechniques. Ian Bell and Paul Collingwood will be the steadying factors while wicket keeper batsman Matthew Prior like Cook will be another surprise weapon. Along with all these batsmen, there is Andrew Strauss looking to get back to top form at the international level.

I suspect Monty Panesar will have to bowl plenty of overs in this series. It will be a great learning curve for the English Turbanator bowling to the best players of spin bowling. Monty could create batting collapses against West Indies and other teams but can he manage to do that against India? That is a tough one for Monty indeed. Ryan Sidebottom will have to lead the bowling attack with a good opening spell. The rest of the guys, two out of these three - James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Chris Tremlett will be forming the pace trio for Lord's. Tremlett could be the one who could miss out most probably. The pace attack is quite inexperienced obviously but then any seamer with a sharp pace who can hit the right areas in English conditions will reap awards, so that is the hope that England will be carrying.

I have a feeling that this Test Match at Lord's could be a high scoring draw with the track traditionally being good for batsmen! Out of the last four Test matches played at this Mecca of World Cricket, three of them have ended as draws! So does this Lord's wicket for the first Test Match between England and India has the spice and life to force a result?? 

England (Likely XI) : Andrew Strauss, Alastair Cook, Michael Vaughan (Captain), Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Matthew Prior (Wicket Keeper), Stuart Broad, Monty Panesar, James Anderson, Ryan Sidebottom

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