After being beaten by Sri Lanka in a test series on home soil for the first time, England will look to recover its reputation with five matches against India. It's the first five-test series in 55 years between the two countries. They will be played quickly, across 42 days, and will shape the futures of players on both sides. Here are five things to know going into the first test match at Trent Bridge in Nottingham, starting Wednesday:
COOK UNDER PRESSURE: For England captain Alastair Cook, he simply must get a big score soon, preferably a century. He has gone 25 innings without reaching three figures and acknowledged after the defeat against Sri Lanka that not only his captaincy is in question, but his place in the team too. "No one has got a divine right to captain the side or play in the side if you're not performing," he said. "I am determined to turn this around." Fellow batsman Joe Root, who made a double-century in the first test against Sri Lanka, believes England collectively must play better. "We've obviously got a point to prove," he said. "We're going to have to play some seriously good cricket but we are more than capable of doing that as a side."
BEN STOKES BACK? The performance of Ben Stokes was one of the few positives England could take from its Ashes whitewash. He is an all-rounder, who made 120 in his second test appearance and, in a total of four matches for England, has 15 wickets with best figures of 6-99. The English media expect him to start on Wednesday, but who Stokes replaces is a cause for debate. Liam Plunkett's name has been mentioned but the fast bowler took nine wickets against Sri Lanka at Headingley. Chris Jordan could drop out but he has shown confidence with bat and ball. With a potential 25 days of cricket out of 42 coming up, both teams might be forced to rotate to avoid fatigue.
Shakib Al Hasan suspended
Bangladesh allrounder Shakib Al Hasan was suspended by the Bangladesh Cricket Board from all competitions for six months and forbidden from playing overseas until the end of 2015 due to his "severe attitude problem." BCB president Nazmul Hassan said the punishment, which was handed down at a board of directors meeting, stemmed from Shakib's recent behavioral issues. The cricket star has clashed with Bangladesh's new coach, Chandika Hathurusingha, and gotten into an altercation with a spectator during a recent one-day international against India in Mirpur. He also went to the Caribbean to play in a Caribbean Premier League tournament without permission and reportedly threatened to quit playing tests for the country when asked to return. Hassan said Shakib has a "severe attitude problem," worse than the team has seen before. "If he was a player who played just once and nobody knew him, that would have been a different issue," he said. "Shakib is our role model, he is our country's ambassador. Many in the world know Bangladesh because of Shakib. That is why we think that a person of his level should be able to maintain his self-discipline."
Hassan said Shakib's behavior has started to rub off on his teammates, causing them to act in a similar manner. "If this continues, this will be destroy the future of our cricket," he said. "So that's why we believe that he obviously deserves a strict punishment." The ban means Shakib will miss Bangladesh's upcoming West Indies tour starting next month, as well as a home series against Zimbabwe in either October or November. When asked if his suspension will affect the composition of the team, board director AZM Nasiruddin said, "There is no way that his suspension will have an adverse impact on the team. The team, rather, will be more disciplined."
COOK UNDER PRESSURE: For England captain Alastair Cook, he simply must get a big score soon, preferably a century. He has gone 25 innings without reaching three figures and acknowledged after the defeat against Sri Lanka that not only his captaincy is in question, but his place in the team too. "No one has got a divine right to captain the side or play in the side if you're not performing," he said. "I am determined to turn this around." Fellow batsman Joe Root, who made a double-century in the first test against Sri Lanka, believes England collectively must play better. "We've obviously got a point to prove," he said. "We're going to have to play some seriously good cricket but we are more than capable of doing that as a side."
BEN STOKES BACK? The performance of Ben Stokes was one of the few positives England could take from its Ashes whitewash. He is an all-rounder, who made 120 in his second test appearance and, in a total of four matches for England, has 15 wickets with best figures of 6-99. The English media expect him to start on Wednesday, but who Stokes replaces is a cause for debate. Liam Plunkett's name has been mentioned but the fast bowler took nine wickets against Sri Lanka at Headingley. Chris Jordan could drop out but he has shown confidence with bat and ball. With a potential 25 days of cricket out of 42 coming up, both teams might be forced to rotate to avoid fatigue.
Shakib Al Hasan suspended
Bangladesh allrounder Shakib Al Hasan was suspended by the Bangladesh Cricket Board from all competitions for six months and forbidden from playing overseas until the end of 2015 due to his "severe attitude problem." BCB president Nazmul Hassan said the punishment, which was handed down at a board of directors meeting, stemmed from Shakib's recent behavioral issues. The cricket star has clashed with Bangladesh's new coach, Chandika Hathurusingha, and gotten into an altercation with a spectator during a recent one-day international against India in Mirpur. He also went to the Caribbean to play in a Caribbean Premier League tournament without permission and reportedly threatened to quit playing tests for the country when asked to return. Hassan said Shakib has a "severe attitude problem," worse than the team has seen before. "If he was a player who played just once and nobody knew him, that would have been a different issue," he said. "Shakib is our role model, he is our country's ambassador. Many in the world know Bangladesh because of Shakib. That is why we think that a person of his level should be able to maintain his self-discipline."
Hassan said Shakib's behavior has started to rub off on his teammates, causing them to act in a similar manner. "If this continues, this will be destroy the future of our cricket," he said. "So that's why we believe that he obviously deserves a strict punishment." The ban means Shakib will miss Bangladesh's upcoming West Indies tour starting next month, as well as a home series against Zimbabwe in either October or November. When asked if his suspension will affect the composition of the team, board director AZM Nasiruddin said, "There is no way that his suspension will have an adverse impact on the team. The team, rather, will be more disciplined."
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