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Cricket: Target India's top order - Woolmer
(The Birmingham Post Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)England have been provided with a dossier to defeat India by an Englishman who has already tasted Test series success against them this winter.
Bob Woolmer, whose Pakistan side followed the 2-0 win over England with victory over the Indians, believes the ability of England's pace quartet to dismantle the home top order will be key.
The former Warwickshire and South Africa coach has also pinpointed Mohali as the venue where Michael Vaughan's tourists are most likely to win.
Although Woolmer has warned against relying on swing as a means of dismissal, he believes India's stellar batting line-up have discernible weaknesses.
Woolmer said: "The best way to beat India is with pace, not spin, as the Indian batsmen play spin better than anyone.
"Using their local SG ball will be a novelty' it has a large seam and is ideal for spin bowlers but, when Pakistan toured there last year, the ball did not swing." This is his verdict:
SACHIN TENDULKAR "The local media are questioning his technique and he is not as prolific as he has been. He is susceptible to the ball nipping back off the seam and does not move his feet as well as he used to. I do not want to tempt providence but, for all his class, he is not as destructive as he was."
VIRENDER SEHWAG "Probably the most destructive opener in world cricket if he is allowed to get going. He offers chances early on and they need to be held. For a player of his ability he tends to lose patience against spin."
RAHUL DRAVID "He is not nicknamed 'The Wall' for nothing but, having taken on opening, he may have exposed himself slightly. The new ball can get him out and he tends to play with his bat outside his body to a ball on line with off stump, which can result in an edge."
YUVRAJ SINGH "One of the next generation and a lovely timer of the ball. He is a good batsman but looks fallible to the inswing bowler who has the ability to go across him. He times the ball sweetly and, like a lot of Indian batsman who do not see much bounce, looks insecure against the short ball."
VVS LAXMAN "The Australians exposed a weakness through the gate. He is also cumbersome against the short ball early on. He is quite slow between the wickets which might be exposed by a good fielder as he likes to take singles to point."
MAHENDRA DHONI "Very powerful with limited foot movement, loves to drive off front and back foot and will hook anything. He is not scared to take people on. His drive is susceptible if the ball goes away from him.
Like Sehwag he does not move his feet and also does not enjoy a spinner bowling wide at him. He is a very aggressive player.
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