The Hindu : Sport : Strauss gearing up for the great challenge

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 17, 2006

Sport

Sport

Strauss gearing up for the great challenge

Special Correspondent

ALL THE BEST YOUNG MAN: Left-arm spinner of yore Bishan Singh Bedi welcomes one of his ilk, England's `Monty' Panesar, at the Brabourne Stadium on Thursday. — Photo: Vivek Bendre

MUMBAI: Andrew Strauss is a patient man, ready to bide his time getting a hang of Indian conditions. The left-handed batsman with a 46.31 Test average from 40 innings is spending long hours at the Cricket Club of India nets, honing his batting skills so that when D-day approaches after two tour games, he is technically and mentally ready. "It is important to hit the ground running over here," he said during a chat with the media at the Taj Mahal Palace & Tower.

Strauss is giving a lot of thought to fine-tuning his strokeplay against spin. "There are not many challenges greater than handling spin bowlers on Indian wickets. The best way for batsmen to play spin is to have many options," said the England batsman, credited with a century on Test debut (vs New Zealand at Lords 2004).

"The key to adaptability is to see which shots work in these conditions. We are trying out batting options over the next week, before the Tests commence, not all may be used later but it is always good to have options because once the matches start, you have to adjust very quickly."

Lesson learnt

The adverse verdict in the series against Pakistan is a lesson well learnt, according to the England left-hander. "We were slow to adapt to conditions out there. We have learnt the lesson and wish to make sure it does not happen again," observed Strauss, pointing out that as part of getting batsmen used to the turning ball, the CCI wickets were roughed up a bit during the net sessions. "The balls started to turn afterwards, good opportunity for our batsmen to get used to playing the turning balls."

The England left-hander's personal experience against India is restricted to three one-dayers, so after the low in Pakistan following the Ashes high, Strauss along with the entire squad is looking forward to enhancing reputations against India. Better said than done, against extremely competitive Anil Kumble and dangerous Harbhajan Singh on the offensive, but then adaptability is the only way to survive.

Memorable meeting

Monty Panesar's education in the craft of spin bowling moved to a different level after meeting with Bishen Singh Bedi. The first Sikh to probably represent the England cricket team caught up with one of the foremost exponent of spin in the former India skipper, whose guile and control is cricketing folkore.

Bedi, in the city for a personal reason, dropped in at the Cricket Club of India, spent a few minutes with the young left-arm spinner after the England nets ended. Panesar appeared an eager listener, soaking in the legendary Indian's words. He could not have chosen a better teacher, one who had mesmerised batsmen the world over with his tantalizing loop and line.

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