So the England selectors have stuck with who they know and picked Ravi Bopara as cover for Jonathan Trott in the forthcoming Third Test. The Essex man's Lions captain, James Taylor may feel slightly unfortunate to have been overlooked but I reckon that even had he struck two stunning double-centuries, he would have lost out to Bopara.
Taylor's time may well come a few years down the line and meanwhile Ravi's ten-Test career has certainly been a rollercoaster one. A mediocre start in Sri Lanka at the end of 2007 followed by three successive centuries against the Windies and just 105 runs in seven Ashes innings two summers ago. If the cycle continues India had better watch out!
Whether he plays or not will depend on whether England go for a five-man bowling attack. The ability of Prior, Bresnan, Broad and even Swann to make lower-order runs may go against Bopara but on the other hand he can bowl some medium-pacers to give the big boys an occasional rest. I think he'll get the nod at number six.
Bopara is still only 26 but at the other end of the age scale, Rahul Dravid has also been recalled - to India's ODI squad - at 38. In recent years he may not be the ideal man for a quick run chase or panther-like fielding when slips are surplus to requirements but if you want someone to keep the scoreboard ticking, you could do a lot worse. Like Tendulkar, form is temporary but class is permanent, and he has amassed more than 10,000 ODI runs in he past fifteen years. However, India do need some good young players in the team, too, or they will look a bit creaky, World champions or not. Hopefully Raina, Kohli and the Sharmas can provide the athleticism that will be missing from the veterans. Let's face it. Dravid is only in the squad because of Yuvraj Singh's broken finger but Yuvraj was never the greatest of fielders.
Where Dravid can make the real difference is at Edgbaston next week. He has been the only one to really demonstrate the temperament and tenacity needed in a gruelling five-day match. Most of the rest are playing like they still think they are at the World Cup or IPL. I find this inexplicable because there are too many wise experienced heads in that squad. MS Dhoni and Duncan Fletcher should instil more patience and application in the team so they can show why they are - just!- the world's best Test nation. However England, with or without Bopara in the team, are in the driving seat with results and confidence in their favour. Some years ago, they would have gone with the new man, the one in form. However, like India, they've preferred experience over potential, and that to me speaks volumes for England's determination not only to win at Edgbaston but to push for a decisive 4-0 result in the whole series.
