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In India, attracting large crowds is a crucial
component of success. According to Steven Finn, who was a member of the team
that went there and won the series back in 2012.
Sunday sees England depart for India with the hope of
repeating that effort, which stands as one of the team’s greatest victories
ever. Thanks mainly to spinners Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar, the tourists
overcame defeat in the first Test to win 2-1, a masterful effort of strategy
and execution from head coach Andy Flower and recently appointed captain
Alastair Cook. Since then, India has won 16 home series.
Although there aren’t many elite spin options in
England’s current lineup, the team led by Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum is
strong because they have an open mind and a healthy dose of confidence.
Together, they have kept England’s aggressive philosophy intact and have won 13
of 19 Test matches, without losing a series.
Finn thinks the latter will be crucial to England’s
success in what will be their most difficult task over the following eight
weeks. The now-retired fast only participated in one Test match during the 2012
series, the penultimate one in Kolkata, which England won by seven wickets to
lead 2-1. Nevertheless, he witnessed directly how the team’s popularity
increased among the home supporters.
“I think the IPL superstardom of some of the
players will count to England’s benefit,” says Finn. “Kevin Pietersen
aside, that 2012 team, people weren’t really superstars in India, whereas you
have quite a few guys this time going over who have played in the IPL and are
superstars in that. I think that will count.
“The three most memorable tours I went on, India
2012, Australia 2010-11 and South Africa 2016, all three of them, one of the
motivations for us was to try and get the opposition public on side and turn
them against their own team. That’s a huge benefit to you, and having Stokes
and McCullum at the helm gives England an opportunity to do that.
“If they play well and give a good account of
themselves, as the series goes on that tide can turn, because we know how
polarising the Indian cricket team can be to their public depending on how they
are playing.”