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Fletcher factor can boost India, says Laxman

VVS Laxman believes India coach Duncan Fletcher will play a key role in his team’s bid to win their forthcoming Test series against England.

Fletcher took over as India coach earlier this year and Laxman insists he felt the benefits of working with the former England chief during the recent Test series in the West Indies.

The batsman talks in glowing terms about Fletcher, who spent eight years as England coach and led them to Ashes victory over Australia in 2005.

Laxman expects the 62-year-old Zimbabwean to provide plenty of insight into how to beat the English on home soil, starting with the first Test at Lord’s on Thursday.

“It has been brilliant working with Duncan,” Laxman said. “The time we spent with him in West Indies was very encouraging and you know from just talking to him that he has such a deep knowledge of the game.

“The Lord’s Test is going to be his 100^th as a coach, which is a great achievement in itself, and he will be the first coach to achieve it.

“We are very lucky to have someone like Duncan with us because he is a very experienced and very mature person.

“I feel I can learn from him. There is always scope for improving and having discussions with someone like Duncan can only make you a better cricketer.

“I talked with him a lot in the West Indies, especially about technique, and I found him really knowledgeable in that respect.”

Laxman insists that defending their ranking as the top Test playing country in the world will be the last thing on India’s mind when they take on England.

“We don’t see it as being about proving ourselves the top nation,” he said. “We just want to concentrate on winning each and every Test match, rather than thinking about number games and rankings.

“It is going to be a highly challenging series for us without a doubt because England have a very good side. They have a very formidable and balanced bowling attack with some real match-winners.

“But I firmly believe that if we play to our potential we can beat any side in world cricket.

“We are looking forward to playing to our strengths and continuing the good work we have done in recent years. We will concentrate fully on our own performances and preparation and if we do that we can definitely do well here.”

Laxman has watched from the sidelines as India endured a frustrating rain-affected fixture against Somerset at Taunton.

India, fielding a side missing several stars, struggled to make any impact on Somerset’s batting as the hosts scored 425-3 in the first innings of the three-day game, which concludes on Sunday.

That fixture is India’s only match before the first Test but Laxman insists they will still be ready to take on England.

“We are not concerned at having only one warm-up game in England,” he said. “With the hectic schedule of international cricket these days, even one such match is a luxury.

“When we went to the West Indies we didn’t have a single warm-up game before the first Test so it is not a worry. I’m very happy with the way we have prepared for this tour.

“I am not playing against Somerset because I had three back-to-back matches at the end of the West Indies tour and it was thought better that I should rest.

“We have an experienced batting line-up, who have played in England before, and I am sure we will have some good net practice before Lord’s so we will be ready for the First Test.”