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NAGPUR, Feb 28: England coach Duncan Fletcher said he was expecting his injury-hit side to show courage in adversity in the opening Test against India on Wednesday. The tourists, attempting to win the first Test series in India in 21 years, suffered a major blow when they lost vice-captain Marcus Trescothick for personal reasons, and skipper Michael Vaughan and paceman Simon Jones to knee injuries.
The key trio were forced to return home, leaving their team in disarray on what Fletcher described as a “tough” tour.
England last won the Test series in India in 1984-85 when David Gower’s team triumphed 2-1.
Ashes hero Andrew Flintoff has been named captain of a depleted England side, but Fletcher said he was hopeful the all-rounder would do the job well.
Flintoff will be leading the team for the first time in Tests.
Batsmen Alastair Cook and Owais Shah, and fast bowler James Anderson have joined the squad as replacements.
India captain Rahul Dravid said his team could not afford to take England lightly because the tourists had quality players in Flintoff, fast bowler Steve Harmison and batsman Kevin Pietersen.
India will bank on their spin duo of Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh to seize an early initiative in the three-Test series.
India lost their last Test here on a bouncy pitch against Australia in 2004, but Dravid said the track would help spinners this time.
TEAMS (FROM):
India: Rahul Dravid (captain), Virender Sehwag, Wasim Jaffer, Sachin Tendulkar, Venkatsai Laxman, Suresh Raina, Mohammad Kaif, Mahendra Dhoni, Irfan Pathan, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Rudra Pratap Singh, Piyush Chawla, Vikram Singh, Sreesanth.
England: Andrew Flintoff (captain), Andrew Strauss, Alastair Cook, Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood, Kevin Pietersen, Geraint Jones, Ian Blackwell, Shaun Udal, Steve Harmison, Matthew Hoggard, Monty Panesar, Liam Plunkett, Matt Prior, Owais Shah, James Anderson.
Umpires: Aleem Dar (Pakistan) and Ian Howell (South Africa).
TV umpire: I. Sivaram (India).
Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (Sri Lanka).—AFP
