England suffer Finn blow

England will be hoping that Steve Finn recovers in time to play in the first Test against India after he was ruled out of the warm-up match with India A (England 4/1, India 6/5, draw 6/4 – Match Prices with bet365).

The giant paceman bowled just four overs on day one before pulling up with a leg injury and scans revealed that he suffered thigh strain.

The England management have made it clear that he will play no further part in the current match and will undergo intense physiotherapy in an attempt to regain fitness for the first of four five-day encounters with MS Dhoni’s men.

The tourists have two more warm-up games ahead of the first Test, which begins on November 15, and coach Andy Flower will be keen for Finn to play some competitive cricket before the Ahmedabad clash.

Finn is by no means assured of his place in the starting XI as there would seem to be just one spot up for grabs with James Anderson and Stuart Broad inked in as the primer two fast bowlers.

Tim Bresnan remains an option as the third seamer and his prowess with the bat might mean that the Yorkshireman gets the nod ahead of Finn.

But the Middlesex man has already shown a liking for bowling in Asian conditions and was superb against Pakistan in the one-day games last winter in the UAE (Finn – 4/1 Top Eng Series Bowler with bet365).

He is the quickest of England’s fast bowlers and can trouble the best batsmen around with an ability to find bounce on docile pitches.

England have yet to decide whether or not to go in with two spinners but Samit Patel did his chances of acting as back-up to Graeme Swann no harm at all with an excellent unbeaten 82 on day two of the current Mumbai clash against the Indian second string, while skipper Alastair Cook held things together with an unbeaten century.

KP set for England return

Kevin Pietersen will bat at four for England in their warm-up game against India ‘A’ in Mumbai on Tuesday, his first appearance since he was dropped in August for disciplinary reasons (Pietersen 10/3 with bet365 to be top England series batsman v India).

The 32-year-old was suspended from international cricket after it was alleged he sent provocative text messages regarding England players and coach Andy Flower to South Africa players during a Test match at Headingley.

Pietersen held a series of talks with the ECB, coach Flower, former skipper Andrew Strauss and several other members of the England squad in order to salvage his international career.

After a public apology, the South Africa-born star was eventually offered a four-month central contract and was recalled to the squad for the winter tour of India (India 1/2, draw 7/2, England 4/1 Test Series prices with bet365).

He was initially allowed to stay with his IPL side Dehli Daredevils as they competed in the T20 Champions League in South Africa.

However, following their elimination on Saturday, Pietersen flew out to the sub-continent to join up with his international team-mates the following day.

He is now set to pull on an England shirt again on Tuesday for a three-day warm-up game ahead of the first of three Test matches in Ahmedabad on November 15.

Swann calls for team effort

England bowler Graeme Swann believes if he and his team-mates are to be successful on the tour of India next month then they will have to work hard as a unit (India 1/2, draw 7/2, England 4/1 Series Outright with bet365).

Following the Kevin Pietersen text saga, there has been plenty of speculation about the mood in the England dressing room as the Test side prepares for the the tour of the sub-continent.

Much is going to rest on the shoulders of Swann on the spin-friendly wickets in India but the 33-year-old has insisted England’s hopes can’t solely rest on him and that everyone needs to pull their weight.

He told the Independent: “As a spinner it stands to reason that when you go to the sub-continent people are going to look to you and how you bowl.

“But if we do turn up just expecting the spinner to win the series for us then we’re screwed.

“The key to Test cricket is that the more you play the more confident you get and the more confident you get ergo you bowl more consistently.”

England get the series off and running with India on November 15, when they will be looking to cause an upset against the hosts in Ahmedabad (India 6/5, draw 6/4, England 4/1 1st Test Match Betting with bet365).

England must prove their class – Swann

Graeme Swann feels it is vital that England do not make the same mistakes that have seen them fall from the top of the rankings when they take on India in the coming weeks (India 1/2, England 4/1, draw 7/2 Series Outright with bet365).

Andrew Strauss led England to a 4-0 whitewash of India on home soil back in 2011 to knock MS Dhoni’s men off the top of the standings.

But staring down at the rest of the Test-playing nations appeared to be a catalyst for England to self-destruct.

They were beaten 3-0 by an average Pakistan side in the UAE last winter before losing 2-0 at home to South Africa – a result that saw the Proteas take England’s mantle as top dogs.

The Kevin Pietersen text scandal then rocked the team, with Strauss retiring from all forms of the game and Alastair Cook moving into the hot-seat.

Swann acknowledges that things have not gone well in the past 12 months and wants his team-mates to try and use that experience to bounce back in the four-Test series.

“We have to prove on this tour that we have learned from our mistakes,” he said. “We’ve had a bit of a hiccup but we have to put that behind us and prove it was nothing more than just a blip.”

It looks set to be the proverbial baptism of fire for Cook, with a trip to the sub-continent traditionally the toughest of all tours (India 5/4, England 7/2, draw 6/4 Match Prices 1st Test with bet365).

But Swann feels it will be a seamless transition from Strauss to Cook, given the latter’s performances when wearing the one-day armband.

“It’s going to be different without Straussy but Cooky is doing an unbelievable job as one-day captain so it is not as though we are going into something new,” he added.

Cook out to make his mark

Alastair Cook has paid tribute to his predecessor Andrew Strauss ahead of his first tour as England Test captain and insists that his team can upset the odds in India (India 4/9, Draw 7/2, England 5/1 Series Betting with bet365).

The Essex opener has taken over the reins on a full-time basis – having led the side on a tour of Bangladesh previously – following Strauss’ decision to step down earlier this summer.

Cook admits that he has learned a lot from his fellow opening batsman but is keen to stamp his own authority on the team, which he feels is capable of winning on the sub-continent.

“I just need to be true to myself – I can’t pretend to be Andrew Strauss. He was a great leader and he did some fantastic things for the side but it is a different side now,” Cook said.

“We have a really tough challenge ahead of us. It is nearly 30 years since we won in India.

“That shows the challenge ahead but I have confidence in this squad that we can go out there and do something special.”

The England squad is due to travel to Dubai for a training camp on Thursday ahead of the arduous tour to India, with the first Test set to get underway on Ahmedabad on November 15 (India 11/10, Draw 7/4, England 7/2 Match Betting with bet365).

Kevin Pietersen though will not be travelling with the rest of the squad as he still has Champions League commitments with the Delhi Daredevils, but Cook has backed the decision to recall him to the national set-up.

“It’s been a difficult two months for us, but as captain the best possible outcome is that we have a world-class player back in the team,” added Cook.

“Kevin is very contrite and desperate to be back playing and scoring runs for England. As captain that’s all I want.”

Trott happy at number three

Ahead of their opening Test against India on November 15, England batsman Jonathan Trott believes his future with the national side remains in third place in the batting order (India 11/10, draw 7/4, England 7/2 – 1st Test with bet365).

The Warwickshire star, who has plenty of experience at the highest level, is a possibly candidate to move up the order following Andrew Strauss‘ retirement from the sport.

However the 31-year-old believes he is better suited to playing in third in the England batting order and expects someone else to come in a fill the void left my Strauss.

He told Sky Sports News: “I’ve enjoyed batting number three in my career, since my second Test match when I was put in that position… I feel like I’ve done a pretty good job there.

“But, if asked to open I’d have to – or I’d like to – do what the team want me to.

“Number three is my preference but we’ll just have to wait and see. I don’t think it will come to that.”

England begin their journey to claim back the number one ranking from South Africa, when they take on India in the subcontinent next month, in what will be a big ask of Trott and company to get a result in the four-match series (India 4/9, draw 7/2, England 5/1 – Test series outright with bet365).

Flower admits KP was missed

England coach Andy Flower admits the Kevin Pietersen saga has been “unprecedented” and concedes his side have been weakened in his absence (India 4/9, England 5/1, draw 7/2 – Test series outright betting with bet365).

Pietersen was dropped from all England squads in August after it was alleged he had sent derogatory text messages regarding England players and coach Flower to South Africa players.

That meant the 32-year-old missed out on the chance to play at the T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka, was left out of the squad to tour India in the winter and was not offered a central contract.

However, following extensive talks with the ECB out in Sri Lanka, where Pietersen has been working as a TV pundit, an agreement has been reached that will see him return to the England fold.

He has been offered a four-month central contract and following a period of ‘reintegration’ will be welcomed back into the dressing room.

Flower admits that England missed Pietersen’s skills at the World Cup, where they went out at the Super Eights stage but he remained coy on whether Pietersen would be added to the squad for the tour of India that begins next month (India 1/1, England 4/1, draw 7/4 – first Test betting with bet365).

“We definitely missed him there is no doubt about that,” he said. “He would have helped our batting side enormously.

“It is unprecedented. Look, it hasn’t been a great couple of months but Hugh Morris [managing director of England cricket] is a good man and the board has been very supportive and clear in their thinking and I appreciate their support and their experience and their wisdom.

“You can’t whinge about it. That is part of the job and you get on and do it. You have to be able to deal with whatever situations come my way.”

When asked about a possible return for India, Flower added: “Let’s get the legal stuff out of the way first.”

KP pens England deal

Ahead of England‘s Test tour of India (4/9 – Test series outright with bet365) next month, Kevin Pietersen has signed a new central contract as he looks to return to national duty.

The 32-year-old made a fresh public apology to the England and Wales Cricket Board on Wednesday for the text saga which occurred back in August and now he is edging closer to a return to the international stage.

Pietersen is looking to get back into the thick of the action as soon as possible, with England’s (5/1 – Test series outright with bet365) tour of India closing in and the batsman hoping to be selected for the series in the subcontinent.

The is believed to be a “reintegration” process set to take place, but the South Africa-born batsman is looking forward to the chance of proving himself at the highest level once again.

Pietersen said: “It’s been a horrible situation for all those involved.

“I believe, all being well, I will be back in an England shirt as soon as possible.

“I’m fairly happy we’re able to move forward. I’m happy we’re able to draw a line under it and move on for a better result for England cricket.”

Flower eyes KP comeback

Ahead of their Test series with India, England (5/1 India Test Series outright with bet365) head coach Andy Flower has revealed he hopes there is a “positive” outcome to the Kevin Pietersen saga, which should be concluded in the coming days.

Pietersen has not featured for the national side in any form of the game since the second Test against South Africa at Headingley back in August and the batsman’s future with England has been the cause of some debate.

The South African-born star looks set to make a public apology for the infamous texting that took place at that Test match in Leeds, which could see him named in the Test squad which will tour India (4/9 India Test Series outright with bet365) next month.

Flower is pleased the matter with Pietersen is coming towards a conclusion and is hoping the talented batsman can return to what he does best.

He said: “The situation is on-going and I think it’s nearing an end now, hopefully in a positive way.

“There has been a lot of formal communication between the ECB and Kevin and there will be a news conference, I imagine, in the next 36 hours that will enlighten you a little further.”

KP holds England hope

Having missed out on a place in the Twenty20 World Cup and the Test squad to face India, England (15/2 Twenty20 outright with bet365) batsman Kevin Pietersen has revealed he is targeting a place back in the national side for the tour of New Zealand next year.

The 32-year-old’s well-documented text saga regarding “provocative” messages sent to members of the South Africa squad last month ruled him out of the T20 side for the competition in Sri Lanka.

However, the talented batsman has not given up hope on making a return to the England Test side for their trip Down Under to face the Black Caps.

Former England skipper Andrew Strauss has revealed Pietersen has apologised to him for comments made about his own team-mates, including alleged statements about the ex-captain.

The South African, who is trying to make amends for his mistake at Headingley, is hoping to earn a place back in the squad for the tour next February.

He wrote on his Twitter account: “Hoping all’s sorted and I’m on the NZ tour in Feb.”

With the Ashes series against old rivals Australia also taking place next year, Pietersen will be looking to establish himself back in the national side before the showdown against the Baggy Greens (England 8/13, draw 9/2, Australia 11/4 Ashes Series outright with bet365).