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Rediff.com  » Cricket » Should India play 2 spinners at Lord's? Select your team

Should India play 2 spinners at Lord's? Select your team

July 15, 2014 15:28 IST
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After escaping with a draw in the first Test at Nottingham, India will be looking to get the team combination right when they take on England in the second Test, starting at Lord's, on Thursday.

India seemed to have misread the pitch as they played just one spinner in the form of Ravindra Jadeja, while all-rounder Stuart Binny was sparingly used as the bowlers struggled to make an impact on a slow and low track.

Binny will also have his fingers crossed for Lord's despite his fighting 78 in the second innings, which ensured India played out a comfortable draw after some early jitters on the final day at Nottingham.

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He scored just one with the bat and bowled only 10 out of India's 144.5 overs in the first innings.

India will also be pondering a few changes for the Lord's game and regular spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who has done well with the bat in Tests, could force his way into the starting eleven.

In recent series, left-armer Jadeja has been preferred to Ashwin, particularly when India plays overseas, but his mediocre showing in the first Test may open the door for the 27-year-old off-spinner.

It remains to be seen if Dhoni will continue his strategy of playing with five bowlers, or the experienced Gautam Gambhir will replace Binny to bolster the batting.

Do you think India should play two spinners at Lord's?

Should they continue with five bowlers?

Be the selector, pick your team for the second Test.

Select your team:

Image: Indian team in a huddle during the first Test match at Nottingham.

Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images

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