Indian entertainers happy to have role as underdogs

Following their scintillating displays during the recent one-day series India, arguably the most entertaining side in the world, have given all lovers of this game a second half of the season to look forward to.

The show starts tomorrow at Lord's and it is the visitors who will be relishing the challenges that lie ahead – in this, the first of four Test matches, more than England whose side has been ravaged by injury.

Despite the welfare of the England side and the fact they have lost three crucial players in Marcus Trescothick, Darren Gough and Andrew Caddick, John Wright, India's coach, does not feel his side are favourites.

He said, while watching India beat Hampshire at the Rose Bowl, "England are a formidable side, they are good competitors, and as of yet we have not done it overseas."

It is not that the former New Zealand opening batsman does not rate his talented young side, who have not won a test series outside Asia since they beat Mike Gatting's England in 1986, but as Wright said: "If you think you are favourites going into a two- horse race, you can be surprised and we don't need that. We need to be hungry, we need to be confident in ourselves and that is what I want our boys to be. If we play as well as we can I know we will be in with a good chance."

Winning the one-day series will have gone some way in giving India the confidence they require for the coming Tests. During that tournament they appeared, through fielding like demons and bowling with discipline, a far more impressive outfit than the one witnessed in India during the winter. It seems that Wright and their fitness trainer Adrian Le Roux, who are stressing the benefits of being a strong fit team, are getting through to these sublimely talented cricketers that ability alone will only get you so far.

Wright said: "The work ethic is vital, as is the understanding that the team is more important than individuals. We are getting there and you hope the players are becoming more aware of what is required."

However, it is their uncoached, natural way of playing the game that makes these wristy, somewhat unpredictable players the attraction they are. Wright is very much aware of this, enjoying their different techniques and approach to the game.

On working with the likes of Sachin Tendulkar he said: "There are little things you just mention, but I try not to get in the way too much. These guys are very self-analytical, so I'd rather wait for them to come and have a chat with me. To some extent I am learning from them as we go along. I think India are very important to world cricket because we play a great brand of cricket. We can play brilliantly, we can be bad but we are always entertaining. Roll on Thursday."

The England selectors decided not to add to their injury-hit squad yesterday, but they have put the Yorkshire fast bowler Chris Silverwood on stand-by in case anything untoward happens at today's practice sessions.