He has no qualms in conceding that England will be underdogs in the upcoming Test series against India but captain Alastair Cook feels that status itself will take the pressure off his side and make it more competitive in the five-match rubber.
England, in spite of losing a Test against minnows Bangladesh inside three days before arriving here, will start the series from November 9 in Rajkot. World No 1 India have not lost a home series since going down 1-2 in 2012 to England led by the 31-year-old Cook.
"It's a big challenge. Any time you play the No 1 or the No 2 ranked team in their backyard, who are very comfortable in their conditions, it's a huge task for us. It's a huge challenge to these guys who have not played a huge amount of cricket in the subcontinent as a group," said Cook.
"What this side has done over the last couple of years is to exceed expectations in big series. We have played really good cricket in big series. last year we went to South Africa and won away from home when they were No 1.
"These are different conditions, but being underdogs takes a lot of pressure off us," said the lancashire player who has a superb record against India.
"We have got some big selection calls to make but the process has started like always when you know two games (in Bangladesh) have happened," said Cook, who has scored four centuries and averages over 60 in eight Tests on Indian soil and 54 in 20 Tests overall.
Saying the team has regrouped well after its humiliating loss to Bangladesh in the second Test at Dhaka late last month, Cook recalled what he had said at a media conference four years ago after his side had lost the series opener in Ahmedabad by a big margin. I remember saying in the press conference after the first Test when talk was India will win 4-0 that we might turn around and win 3-1. Anything is possible.
"Whatever challenge we have thrown up to these guys in big games someone has stood up and played good cricket that's the challenge we face here where we are the underdogs," said the stylish left-handed opener, whose highest Test score of 294 was notched against India.
Comparing the bowling attack of 2012, that had Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar as the spin options, to the current one, Cook said they have more balance now and can even afford to include six bowlers. "It's a very different bowling attack. Swaney and Monty, four years ago, were at the peak of their game and Monty did an outstanding job of holding (one end up) in the three Tests he played. Unfortunately we don't have that experience, but we have got guys who were successful against India in the past. We have more options in this squad and the balance of the side allows us to have six bowlers," said Cook.
Fast bowler James Anderson could return to spearhead the England pace attack against India in the second Test at Visakhapatnam after he was cleared to join his team-mates.
"(It's) really good news about Anderson. He has worked hard to get back. He's got the all clear. Just chatted with him yesterday and the day before. (Him playing in the) second Test (at Vizag) is a good possibility. We will know more after seeing how his body reacts," said Cook at his first media meet here after landing in India three days ago with his team.
According to England and Wales Cricket Board's website, Anderson, who had done well against India in the past, is set to reach Rajkot — venue of the first Test commencing on November 9 — on Tuesday, but will not take part in the series opener. The second Test starts from November 17 in the port city of Visakhapatnam. "James Anderson will join England's Test squad in India next week, and is increasingly hopeful of playing a significant part in the five-match series after making encouraging progress in his recovery from a shoulder injury," according to the ECB website.
Indian team reach Rajkot
Rajkot: Indian cricket team, led by skipper Virat Kohli, arrived here on Saturday morning for the first game of the five-match Test series against England, starting at Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) stadium at Khandheri from November 9.
Gautam Gambhir, Ishant Sharma, Jayant Yadav and Amit Mishra arrived here around 8.25 am along with Kohli and other team members, SCA media manager Himanshu Shah said.