Five reasons why England won’t lose to India in Chennai

India/England, First Test, 3.45am, Sky S1, Best Odds, Free Bets

England bravely decided to travel back to India for the two-test series against India and the players will kindly donate half of their match fees to victims of the Mumbai terror attacks. Here are five reasons why England will receive good karma from that gesture and will avoid defeat in the opening test:

1. India have won the opening test in just one of their last seven series and have failed to open with victory in any of their last four.

2. England have lost the first test in just two of their last six series and are unbeaten in their last three openers against India, losing just two of the last seven.

3. England have lost just one of the four tests they have contested in Chennai since 1977. India’s last three tests in Chennai have all finished as draws.

4. Remarkably, England have competed in seventeen two-test series without ever tasting defeat. The only time they have ever lost the opener in a two-test series was in their first ever against Australia back in 1877.

5. Despite his impressive ODI performances, Yuvraj Singh is no replacement for the recently retired Sourav Banguly. Yuvraj has a batting average of just 21.33 against England compared to Banguly’s 57.82.

Posted: December 10th, 2008 by Michael Lintorn |