Contrary to their preparations in 2012, England seem quite short of “appropriate” match practice for their upcoming Test series against India. The last time they were here for a Test series, the English tourist party played as many as three warm-up games, in the lead up to the first Test at Ahmadabad. One can say there has been sufficient practice, as their gruelling campaign against Bangladesh ended a few days ago, but honestly, England will be tested much further than what they were in Bangladesh.
In Indian conditions, it is necessary to have a squad full of champion players, who can regularly churn out match winning displays. Nevertheless, a key aspect about Test matches in the subcontinent is that often a small period of play, such as a session, has a daunting impact upon the overall outcome of the game. An instance of this can be a lethal spell in the evening session, where the tides turn big time.
Hence, it becomes critical to have a few real impact players in the team, who can dramatically have a say on the game’s result. Impact players may not mandatorily be the top grade players like Virat Kohli, Alastair Cook or Ajinkya Rahane, but those individuals who can have a genuine impact on the game in a short time span. Below, we analyze five such individuals who are capable of turning the game on its head in simply no time.