'Indo-Pak series could have been longer'

Indo-Pak bilateral cricket is finally set for revival in December. (TOI Photo)

KARACHI: He is glad that Indo-Pak bilateral cricket is finally set for revival come December, but former Pakistan captain Zaheer Abbas is not particularly pleased with the short duration of the series.

While welcoming the BCCI announcement that it had got clearance to host Pakistan for a short one-day series from December 25, Zaheer said he hoped for a full series.

"While it is a very good thing that finally bilateral cricket matches are being revived after nearly five years but the duration of the series has disappointed me given the importance of Indo-Pak cricket contests," he said.

"Any bilateral contest is welcome but I would have thought that after such a long break, both countries should have played a proper Test series and found a window for this in their busy schedules," he added.

Zaheer said the duration of the series was too short. "But anyway I hope that very soon the two boards will schedule a full Test series because it has been a long time since we played Tests against each other and that is the real challenge of cricket," he noted.

Another former Test captain, Hanif Mohammad also welcomed the decision by the PCB to send its team to India in December to revive bilateral ties.

"It is a good decision although India has not come to Pakistan since 2006 but someone has to take the initiative and it is good we did it. Because I have always felt Indo-Pak cricket contests only further popularise the sport in the subcontinent and bring in new talent," Hanif said.

Zaheer also advised the Pakistan Cricket Board to appoint a local person as the batting coach of the national team.

Zaheer's comments came despite he being a member of the coaching committee appointed by the board to scrutinise, shortlist and recommend candidates for the batting coach position.

The committee has invited interested applicants from Pakistan and outside the country to apply for the position by December 5.

"I just feel that we should have a local person as batting coach because we have produced some great batsmen in our country and one of them can easily enough do the job for the national team," Zaheer said.

The former captain, who himself scored prolifically in a illustrious career is a member of the committee that also includes former Test captain Intikhab Alam and Colonel Naushad Ali.

Zaheer, who was also on the committee when it appointed Dav Whatmore as head coach of the team in March, said the Australian needed to be given proper time to prove his credentials with the team.

"Immediately after he took charge we won the Asia Cup but I still feel he needs to be given more time to prove himself. We should not jump to conclusions about his value to the team," he added.

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Eyes on Pujara, Dhawan in warm-up tie

MUMBAI: Special invitees Cheteshwar Pujara and Shikhar Dhawan would be the closely watched by the national selectors when Mumbai A take on the visiting England team in the tourists' second three-day warm-up game from Saturday.

Pujara, a prolific run-getter in domestic cricket and scorer of a ton in the opening Test against New Zealand in August, looks a certainty for India's first Test squad to be announced on the last day of this game.

Dhawan is a strong contender to be the reserve opener at Ahmedabad following his big scores in the earlier part of the 2012-13 domestic season.

The Delhi batsman would have played in place of Abhinav Mukund for India A in the opening warm-up game but opted out of the originally announced squad as his wedding date clashed with the match.

Apart from this duo, there are players like captain Suryakumar Yadav, Kshemal Waingankar and Balwinder Singh Sandhu Jr., who will be watched with interest by the selectors.

Medium pacer Waingankar, in fact, had taken a six-wicket haul when England last visited the country and played a warm-up game at Brabourne while Sandhu made an impressive Ranji Trophy debut as a new ball bowler last season.

There are others like batsmen Hiken Shah and Bhavin Thakkar, apart from leg spinner Sagar Gorivale and medium pacer Javed Khan who would be eager to impress against a top visiting side.

The visitors, on the other hand, had a satisfactory outing in their opening drawn game against India A that ended yesterday.

Most pleasing from their point of view was the long stays at the crease of captain and opener Alastair Cook and middle order batsman Samit Patel, both of who scored centuries.

There were attractive half centuries from Jonathan Trott and Matt Prior, the first choice stumper, to further give a boost to their confidence ahead of the tough battles in the four-Test rubber starting on November 15.

Speedsters James Anderson and Tim Bresnan, expected to make the eleven at Ahmedabad, had long spells under the sun and on a wicket that was good for batting.

Anderson claimed four wickets by concentrating on moving the ball and Bresnan used his aggression, pace and the short ball to snap up 4 wickets - par for the course.

The third fast bowler who played in the game, Steven Finn, limped off after bowling only four overs due to a right thigh strain and is not likely to take the field in the second game.

Vice-captain Stuart Broad is certain to play along with the fifth pace bowler Graham Onions. The third and final warm-up game against Haryana is scheduled between November 8 and 11 at Ahmedabad.

A small concern for the visitors was that part-time left arm spinner Yuvraj Singh grabbed a career first-class best of 5 for 94, and his victims included Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Patel and Prior.

However, pace spearhead Anderson said after the match that the visitors were not too concerned about Yuvraj getting a fifer.

Lack of match practice against spin could be the undermining factor for the tourists who will be up against off spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and left arm Pragyan Ojha in the Test series.

The Indian spin duo has scalped wickets in a heap by bowling together in the last two Test rubbers at home against the West Indies and New Zealand.

But for Sagar Gorivale, a leg break bowler, the Mumbai A squad also lacks a frontline slow bowler, which is seen as a ploy by the Indian selection committee to deny the visiting team good practice against slow bowlers ahead of Tests.

From the visitors' point of view, they may opt to give a chance to left arm spinner Monty Panesar to get into the groove.

Panesar is fighting for a place in the eleven with Patel who has stolen the first march with a ton and a two-wicket haul in the visitors' tour-opener.

Teams (from):

Mumbai A: Suryakumar Yadav (Capt.), Cheteshwar Pujara, Shikhar Dhawan, Hiken Shah, Bhavin Thakkar, Sufiyan Shaikh, Nikhil Patil (Jr.), Abhishek Raut, Neelkanth Parab, Bravish Shetty, Kshemal Waingankar, Balwinder Singh Sandhu (Jr.) , Sagar Gorivale, Javed Khan, Shardul Thakur.

England: Alastair Cook (Capt.), James Anderson, Ian Bell, Tim Bresnan, Nick Compton, Steven Finn, Samit Patel, Kevin Pietersen, Matt Prior, Graeme Swann, Jonathan Trott, Sturt Broad, Joe Root, Jimmy Bairstow, Graham Onions, Eoin Morgan, Monty Panesar.

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Sachin, Rahane hit tons in Ranji match

MUMBAI: Sachin Tendulkar roared back to form ahead of the upcoming Test series against England with a strokeful 137, while Ajinkya Rahane remained unbeaten on 105 to help Mumbai pile up 344 for four against Railways on the opening day of their four-day Ranji Trophy match on Friday.

Tendulkar, in Mumbai colours after three years, came in at no 5 and batted fluently after starting cautiously against a largely inexperienced Railways attack to reach his hundred off 103 balls with 14 fours and 3 sixes.

In all, the senior India batsman, whose last hundred in any form of the game was his unprecedented and much-feted 100th international century at Dhaka on March 16, struck 21 fours and three sixes during his 136-ball knock before edging medium pacer Anureet Singh to the slip cordon, three overs before stumps.

The 200-run partnership between Tendulkar, who batted for just over three hours, and one down Rahane placed Mumbai in command in their opening Group A fixture at the Wankhede Stadium.

Rahane, who fully utilised the life given to him on seven by Murali Kartik, faced 203 balls and struck 13 fours during his unconquered knock. Giving him company at close of play was Abhishek Nayar, who is yet to open his account.

The cynosure of all eyes on day one of the match was clearly Tendulkar. The 39-year-old senior batsman's form in the last Test series against New Zealand at home was a cause for concern as he was bowled three times in as many innings.

But the script was totally different on Friday, albeit at a lower level of competition.

The three-figure innings was his 18th in the championship and his 79th in first class cricket and it placed him within striking distance of overhauling Sunil Gavaskar's domestic record of 81 tons in games lasting three or more days.

Put into bat, Mumbai got off to a decent start as openers Kaustubh Pawar and wicket-keeper Aditya Tare put on 45 runs before the former left in the 15th over, caught behind.

Rahane, coming into the game after making 54 for India A in the second innings against England yesterday at the nearby Brabourne Stadium, was lucky when he was let off by Murali Kartik at second slip off left-arm medium pacer Hardik Rathod.

The right-handed batsman, in contention for a spot in the India's first Test squad against England to be picked on November 5, made Railways pay for the fielding lapse by making an unbeaten century.

Rahane also put on a double century partnership with Tendulkar who surprisingly came in at 5 instead of his pet no 4 position.

Just before lunch, Tare was dismissed, bowled by Kartik, for 47, made off 180 balls with eight fours.

Tendulkar, who slammed Shivkant Shukla for a six, and Rahane steadied the boat and carried the home team to 214 for three at tea.

Tendulkar reached his half century after tea with a four off rival captain Sanjay Bangar in 69 balls. It contained seven fours and a six.

Tendulkar then raced to his century in 34 more balls, the second fifty included seven fours and two sixes.

Railways took the new ball immediately after it was due and Rahane drove Rathod for a four and took a single to complete his century in 193 balls with 12 fours.

The new ball helped Railways break the stand when Anupreet sent back Tendulkar just before the close of play.

Anureet picked up 2 for 53 while the other successful bowler, Kartik, claimed 1 for 55.

"My innings of 54 (against England for India A yesterday) was important as that innings gave me a lot of confidence. Today batting with Sachin-paaji became very easy. My role was to score a run and give the strike to him," said Rahane.

"He told me just play your natural game and that is what I did. He said look for loose deliveries and hit them.

"Batting becomes easy when Sachin is around. The bowling side is also on the backfoot when he is there. He was very determined and his hunger is always there. He played with the same mindset and determination that he always has," he said.

"He always gives tips. You learn a lot from him at the non-strikers end," said Rahane, who was the reserve opener against New Zealand in the two-Test series in August.

Rahane said he was not thinking about retaining his place in the Test squad against England.

"I am not thinking about (place in the team). Just want to focus on my batting and keep scoring runs and be consistent," he said.

Asked about the reprieve he got early on in his innings, Rahane said: "Catches keep dropping. This is part and parcel of the game. Obviously after that I became a lot more determined."

"The wicket, compared to the usual Wankhede wicket, was a bit slow. It became a bit slower later on. If the bowlers made an effort, there was something for them as well," he said about the pitch, prepared for the four-day match.

Scorecard

MUMBAI (1st innings):
K Pawar c Rawat b Anureet Singh 24
A Tare b Kartik 47
A Rahane batting 105
R Sharma run out 18
S Tendulkar c Madkaikar b Anureet Singh 137
A Nayar batting 0

Extras: 13 (lb 4, nb 7, w 2)
Total: 344/4 in 90 overs
Fall of wickets: 1-45, 2-100, 3-143, 4-343

Bowling:
Upadhyay 18-1-78-0,
Rathod 21-1-64-0,
Anureet Singh 17-4-53-2,
Bangar 8-0-44-0,
Kartik 20-2-55-1,
Ashish Yadav 5-0-33-0,
Shukla 1-0-13-0.

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Sachin, Rahane hit tons in Ranji match

MUMBAI: Sachin Tendulkar roared back to form ahead of the upcoming Test series against England with a strokeful 137, while Ajinkya Rahane remained unbeaten on 105 to help Mumbai pile up 344 for four against Railways on the opening day of their four-day Ranji Trophy match on Friday.

Tendulkar, in Mumbai colours after three years, came in at no 5 and batted fluently after starting cautiously against a largely inexperienced Railways attack to reach his hundred off 103 balls with 14 fours and 3 sixes.

In all, the senior India batsman, whose last hundred in any form of the game was his unprecedented and much-feted 100th international century at Dhaka on March 16, struck 21 fours and three sixes during his 136-ball knock before edging medium pacer Anureet Singh to the slip cordon, three overs before stumps.

The 200-run partnership between Tendulkar, who batted for just over three hours, and one down Rahane placed Mumbai in command in their opening Group A fixture at the Wankhede Stadium.

Rahane, who fully utilised the life given to him on seven by Murali Kartik, faced 203 balls and struck 13 fours during his unconquered knock. Giving him company at close of play was Abhishek Nayar, who is yet to open his account.

The cynosure of all eyes on day one of the match was clearly Tendulkar. The 39-year-old senior batsman's form in the last Test series against New Zealand at home was a cause for concern as he was bowled three times in as many innings.

But the script was totally different on Friday, albeit at a lower level of competition.

The three-figure innings was his 18th in the championship and his 79th in first class cricket and it placed him within striking distance of overhauling Sunil Gavaskar's domestic record of 81 tons in games lasting three or more days.

Put into bat, Mumbai got off to a decent start as openers Kaustubh Pawar and wicket-keeper Aditya Tare put on 45 runs before the former left in the 15th over, caught behind.

Rahane, coming into the game after making 54 for India A in the second innings against England yesterday at the nearby Brabourne Stadium, was lucky when he was let off by Murali Kartik at second slip off left-arm medium pacer Hardik Rathod.

The right-handed batsman, in contention for a spot in the India's first Test squad against England to be picked on November 5, made Railways pay for the fielding lapse by making an unbeaten century.

Rahane also put on a double century partnership with Tendulkar who surprisingly came in at 5 instead of his pet no 4 position.

Just before lunch, Tare was dismissed, bowled by Kartik, for 47, made off 180 balls with eight fours.

Tendulkar, who slammed Shivkant Shukla for a six, and Rahane steadied the boat and carried the home team to 214 for three at tea.

Tendulkar reached his half century after tea with a four off rival captain Sanjay Bangar in 69 balls. It contained seven fours and a six.

Tendulkar then raced to his century in 34 more balls, the second fifty included seven fours and two sixes.

Railways took the new ball immediately after it was due and Rahane drove Rathod for a four and took a single to complete his century in 193 balls with 12 fours.

The new ball helped Railways break the stand when Anupreet sent back Tendulkar just before the close of play.

Anureet picked up 2 for 53 while the other successful bowler, Kartik, claimed 1 for 55.

"My innings of 54 (against England for India A yesterday) was important as that innings gave me a lot of confidence. Today batting with Sachin-paaji became very easy. My role was to score a run and give the strike to him," said Rahane.

"He told me just play your natural game and that is what I did. He said look for loose deliveries and hit them.

"Batting becomes easy when Sachin is around. The bowling side is also on the backfoot when he is there. He was very determined and his hunger is always there. He played with the same mindset and determination that he always has," he said.

"He always gives tips. You learn a lot from him at the non-strikers end," said Rahane, who was the reserve opener against New Zealand in the two-Test series in August.

Rahane said he was not thinking about retaining his place in the Test squad against England.

"I am not thinking about (place in the team). Just want to focus on my batting and keep scoring runs and be consistent," he said.

Asked about the reprieve he got early on in his innings, Rahane said: "Catches keep dropping. This is part and parcel of the game. Obviously after that I became a lot more determined."

"The wicket, compared to the usual Wankhede wicket, was a bit slow. It became a bit slower later on. If the bowlers made an effort, there was something for them as well," he said about the pitch, prepared for the four-day match.

Scorecard

MUMBAI (1st innings):
K Pawar c Rawat b Anureet Singh 24
A Tare b Kartik 47
A Rahane batting 105
R Sharma run out 18
S Tendulkar c Madkaikar b Anureet Singh 137
A Nayar batting 0

Extras: 13 (lb 4, nb 7, w 2)
Total: 344/4 in 90 overs
Fall of wickets: 1-45, 2-100, 3-143, 4-343

Bowling:
Upadhyay 18-1-78-0,
Rathod 21-1-64-0,
Anureet Singh 17-4-53-2,
Bangar 8-0-44-0,
Kartik 20-2-55-1,
Ashish Yadav 5-0-33-0,
Shukla 1-0-13-0.

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Dashing Yuvraj Singh fit and super hit

Yuvraj took 5-94 in 26.5 overs to enable India 'A' to bowl out England, who resumed at 286 for 4, 20 minutes after lunch. (PTI Photo)

MUMBAI: Yuvraj Singh gave a fitting riposte to skipper MS Dhoni's 'apprehensions' over his fitness on the final day of the three-day match against England, at the CCI, on Thursday. The all-rounder followed up on his regal knock of 59 with a five-wicket haul, to stake a huge claim for a spot in the playing XI in the first Test, starting at Ahmedabad, on November 15.

For the record, the game ended in a draw with India 'A' scoring 124 for 4 in the second innings to back up their first innings total of 369 after England were bowled out for 426.

Yuvraj took 5-94 in 26.5 overs to enable India 'A' to bowl out England, who resumed at 286 for 4, 20 minutes after lunch. England had a lead of 57. What will interest Dhoni, who questioned his ability to field for two days, is the fact that Yuvraj was on the field for the entire 119.5 overs of the England innings in hot, humid conditions. Yuvraj's figures were his best in first class cricket beating the 3/25 in 2001-02 against Jammu and Kashmir.

The 30-year-old's effort though didn't stop Samit Patel, who was batting on 82 overnight, to complete a well-deserved century. Patel 104 (173 balls, 14x4) also shared an effective stand of 65 with Matthew Prior, who played a breezy knock of 51 (52 balls, 9x4). It's a credit to Yuvraj that he produced deliveries that could dismiss both well set players in the span of five deliveries. Prior's dismissal was off a classical left-arm-spinner's delivery that pitched and straightened and the batsman edged it to Suresh Raina at first slip. Patel, after registering his 14th first class ton, was deceived in flight while trying an inside out cover drive. He couldn't beat Murali Vijay at cover though.

Those dismissals were after Ashok Dinda (mighty impressive again with his attitude and energy) removed big fish Alastair Cook for a patient 119 which he scored in 269 balls. Cook couldn't keep out a good delivery that pitched and left the skipper and edged it to wicket-keeper Saha.

England managed to grab a lead of 57 and also dented the pride of openers Abhinav Mukund and Murali Vijay by getting them out for 3 and 32 respectively. Vijay would have been dismissed earlier thanks to umpire Shavir Tarapore's inability to spot a bump ball. Vijay's flick off Swann landed in the hands of Alastair Cook at mid-wicket and despite the England skipper's insistence that the catch wasn't keen, Tarapore raised his finger, before better sense prevailed. They dismissed Yuvraj (14) cheaply too, but Rahane 54 (98 balls, 6x4), used the time and opportunity to score a good looking half century. How he would have wished for those runs to come in the first innings though.

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Pak to kick start India tour in Bangalore

The Pakistan team will touch down at Bangalore on December 22.

MUMBAI: A day after the Home Ministry cleared Pakistan cricket team's upcoming tour of India, the BCCI on Thursday announced the schedule of the limited-over series that begins with a Twenty20 international on December 25 in Bangalore.

The Pakistan team will touch down at Bangalore on December 22 and will kick-off their campaign against the hosts with a T20 international at the city's M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

The visitors will then move to Ahmedabad for the second T20 game (December 27) before heading to Chennai for the first of the three-match ODI series on December 30.

The second ODI of the series will be played at Kolkata on January 3, while the third and final one-dayer will be held at Delhi on January 6, a BCCI release stated.

The arch-rivals have not played a bilateral series since Pakistan's tour of India in 2007. The cricketing ties between the two nations were snapped after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

Schedule:

December 25: 1st T20 International at Bengaluru
December 27: 2nd T20 International at Ahmedabad
December 30: 1st ODI at Chennai
January 3: 2nd ODI at Kolkata
January 6: 3rd ODI at Delhi.

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I'm willing to bat at any number: Rahane

Ajinkya Rahane said he was pleased with his second innings effort of 54 in 98 balls after scoring just four in the first essay. (AP Photo)

MUMBAI: Ajinkya Rahane on Thursday insisted he does not have preference for a particular batting position and that he was willing to bat at any number.

India A coach Lalchand Rajput had said before the warm-up game against the visiting England team that Rahane 'likes to bat at number 3, giving a clear hint that Murali Vijay and Abhinav Mukund would open the innings.

"I am not particular about which number I should bat. I will be happy to bat wherever team management wants me to. I just want to score runs," said the Mumbai batsman after scoring a half-century in the second innings of the drawn tie.

Rahane said he was pleased with his second innings effort of 54 in 98 balls after scoring just four in the first essay.

"I am happy with my second innings effort after the disappointment in the first. It will give me confidence going forward to the Ranji Trophy game tomorrow (against Railways at the Wankhede Stadium)," he said.

The 24-year-old batsman praised bowling effort of Yuvraj Singh, who returned a career-best first class haul of 5/94.

"Yuvraj bowled very well. He bowled well in the T20 World Cup too (in Sri Lanka). He is a useful bowler."

The Mumbai batsman and reserve Test opener had a good look at the England bowling during the game and termed the attack in the game as decent.

"They bowled well and in good areas. Their bowling was pretty decent. (Spinners) Graeme Swann and Samit (Patel) bowled in right areas," he said.

England pace spearhead James Anderson, who claimed four wickets in the game, said the visitors were not concerned about a part-time bowler like Yuvraj getting a fifer.

"I don't think. We got a couple of guys getting hundreds and a couple others getting fifties. Spinners are going to get wickets here as the wickets have a little bit of turn," he pointed out.

England skipper Alastair Cook (119) and all-rounder Samit (104) scored hundreds in the game while Jonathan Trott (56) and wicket-keeper Matt Prior (51) scored half-centuries.

Anderson said that his team had a decent outing in the middle. "We had a pretty good work-out. I think we got what we needed to get out of the game," he said.

He also praised the batting of Cook and Patel. "He (Cook) was very determined and showed by example. Samit was outstanding. He was calm and controlled."

Anderson said while fast bowling partner Steve Finn's right thigh strain was unfortunate, it also offered the other pacers in the squad a chance.

"Injuries do happen. It's unfortunate. But it gives others a chance," he said.

Finn was injured on the opening day while fielding and limped off the field after a four-over spell in which he did not take any wicket.

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Anderson completes the graduation

"We got what we wanted from this game. The bowlers got a decent bowl and the batsmen got a decent hit," James Anderson said on Thursday. (TOI Photo)

MUMBAI: When James Anderson first came to India, in 2006, his bowling fluctuated between the sublime to the ridiculous. He could either bowl like Glenn McGrath or like Heath-O-Davis. Hence, he played in only one Test of the three.

That was at the Wankhede, in Mumbai. He bowled with the metronomical accuracy of a McGrath there. Then he slipped back into ordinary mode and in the quest to produce deliveries that pitch on leg and hit off, started bowling rubbish again. His hairstyles changed drastically too and it didn't take long for him to sulk when things didn't go his way.

The Anderson you see in 2012 is different though. He knows his craft. He rarely bowls half volleys or half trackers. The desperation to produce magic deliveries is no more there. He has learnt how to set up batsmen.

The 30-year-old Lancastrian, who simply loves bowling to Indians (in 10 Tests, he has claimed 45 wickets), will be a key figure for the English outfit as they try and ape David Gower and Co's feats of winning a Test series in India after 28 years.

Conventional swing with the new ball and reverse swing with the old, Anderson showed those attributes in the three-day game against India 'A' and the four wickets he got in the game were genuine seamer's wickets as he bowled 17.1 overs in the first innings and seven overs in the second.

"We got what we wanted from this game. The bowlers got a decent bowl and the batsmen got a decent hit," the seamer said on Thursday.

Anderson had a dream debut at Lord's taking five wickets in 2003 against Zimbabwe. He had Steve Harmison or Matthew Hoggard at mid on or mid off and they were in his ear constantly.

Later, as he developed a strong bond with Andrew Flintoff, he got useful tips from second slip. As someone, who is on his third Test tour here, he is now expected to be the guiding force for what is an inexperienced seam bowling line-up in Indian conditions.

No wonder, he spent a lot of time talking to Tim Bresnan during the game and to Steve Finn (before he got injured). He will have a role in guiding Stuart Broad and Graham Onions too as neither of them have played Test cricket in India before.

"That's something that is ongoing all the time no matter what country we tour. We always talk to each other. If there's information to be passed on, we pass it on and try and communicate as much as possible. And that's the only way that people are going to learn. You learn by talking about the game and that's what we do a lot."

Anderson feels to succeed in India, bowlers will need to vary their pace as he did on Thursday to get the wicket of Mukund and Vijay.

"First wicket was off a cutter. I just took a bit of pace off and that got the leading edge. I think that's what might be useful here. And then it starts reverse swinging for us later on."

And that's when the Indian batsmen need to be on guard as he is a master of that.

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Test team will improve with time: Dhoni

Indian captain MS Dhoni interacts with media during the launch of SportsFit Gym & Fitness Centre in New Delhi. (PTI Photo)

NEW DELHI: Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni says he is satisfied with the team's performance in the shorter formats and, with time, it will translate into Tests as well.

Reacting to Sunil Gavaskar's comments that the Indian Test team looks the most vulnerable in three decades, Dhoni said Wednesday that "on paper it might look the weakest" but he was confident that the team will only improve with time.

"On paper it may look the weakest. It is a different looking team after the retirement of Rahul bhai (Dravid) and VVS Laxman. But we are also a very different side on the field. Slowly we are growing in confidence and I am hopeful that this team will only improve with time," said Dhoni at the launch of his gym Sportsfit.

Dhoni said the team was looking forward to the hectic six months ahead during which India host England, Pakistan and Australia. The four-match Test series against England starts November 15.

"The team has a busy time ahead with the home series against England, Pakistan Australia. We will try our best against England. We will try to do good and focus on the specifics. We need to be fit for the gruelling time ahead. The side is doing well in the one-day format and it will take some time to get back to the top of Test cricket," said Dhoni.

Endorsing the view of his team mates Virat Kohli and Harbhajan Singh on preparing turning tracks at home, Dhoni said he was looking forward to see spinners ruling the roost in the four-match Test series against England.

"It has been a while since I have seen spinners dominating a Test match. I would want to see that against England. We usually take the advice from the curators before a game. He knows the wicket best. We generally put in a requisition on the type of pitch we would prefer for a game. But at the end of the day, the groundsmen know the best.

"If you talk about a sporting pitch, there is no such definition for it. However, when you come to the sub-continent you get turning tracks here. But we want to improve our game by playing on all kinds of surfaces," he said.

As the topic of discussion was fitness, Dhoni shared his thoughts on the fittest player in the team.

"I think Virat Kohli is the fittest at the moment. Manoj (Tiwary) is another guy who is very fit," he said.

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Alastair Cook shines in India tour opener

England's Alastair Cook celebrates his century against India A during their practice match in Mumbai on Wednesday. (PTI Photo)

MUMBAI: Alastair Cook began his reign as England's full-time Test captain with an unbeaten century that revived the tourists in their opening match of the Indian tour on Wednesday.

The left-handed opener was on 112 and Samit Patel made 82 not out as England fought back to post 286-4 by stumps on the second day of the three-day match against India 'A' at the Brabourne stadium in Mumbai.

The tourists, preparing for the four-Test series against India which starts in Ahmedabad on November 15, are still 83 behind the 369 made by India 'A' in their first innings.

Jonathan Trott scored 56 during a second-wicket stand of 95 with Cook after rookie opener Nick Compton, grandson of former England batsman Denis Compton, failed to score.

Kevin Pietersen, playing for the first time in an England shirt since August, hit a six and three boundaries before being dismissed for 23.

Yuvraj Singh followed his 59 on Tuesday with the wickets of Pietersen and Ian Bell in successive overs of left-arm spin to reduce the tourists to 133-4 midway through the post-lunch session.

Patel helped Cook rebuild the innings with an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 153 and emerge a strong contender for a middle-order berth in the first Test.

Cook, who led England in two Tests in Bangladesh in 2010, took over as full-time captain in August when Andrew Strauss retired after the series defeat against South Africa at home.

Meanwhile, fast bowler Steven Finn was ruled out of the match due to a thigh strain, making him an uncertain starter for the first Test.

The beanpole 23-year-old pulled up with a thigh strain while chasing a ball in Tuesday's first session and had since been confined to the dressing room.

Scans did not reveal any major damage but Finn was asked to sit it out and undertake a recovery programme set out by team doctors.

The tourists are not calling in a replacement, but Finn may be required to play at least one of the two remaining warm-up matches in order to be considered for the Ahmedabad Test.

The tourists take on Mumbai 'A' in a three-day game from Saturday and play state side Haryana in a four-day match in Ahmedabad from November 8.

Brief scores:

India 'A' 1st innings: 369 (Abhinav Mukund 73, Yuvraj Singh 59, Manoj Tiwary 93, Irfan Pathan 46, Graeme Swann 3-90, Tim Bresnan 3-59)

England 1st innings: 286-4 (Alastair Cook 112 not out, Jonathan Trott 56, Kevin Pietersen 23, Samit Patel 82 not out, Yuvraj Singh 2-52)

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