Clash of Titans: Lord's of war

There's something about the first day of a Test match in England — and one is not only talking about the smell of steaming hotdogs, the busy betting shops or the dirt cheap cricket literature on sale.

A distinct buzz in the air tells you it's more about a celebration of the "pinnacle" of all forms of the game — the Test match — and it's a happy coincidence that the 2000th one will be played at what they call the capital of cricket.

Talking of happy coincidences, the International Cricket Council (ICC) should be over the moon that so many chance factors have colluded to make the up-coming India-England Test series one the most eagerly anticipated ones in recent times.

The first of them is more about an individual landmark rather than a battle of rankings between two in-form teams — no prizes for guessing that one is talking about "that one more" century from Sachin Tendulkar which will make him the owner of 100 centuries in international cricket.

Over the last month or so, the paeans in the British media about the little master have been overwhelming — with his availability in England making the scramble for an interview with him quite palpable. Tendulkar, on his own part, has been playing it down with the routine of not thinking too hard about it and just trying to "enjoy" the moment — but the sense of occasion is certainly not lost on him.

Sport, of course, can be quite cruel and the master batsman's not-so-impressive record at the Lord's may weigh on his mind as he walks out to bat in the first Test. Surprising as it may sound, Tendulkar is yet to score a fifty at the historic venue, while his aggregate is a modest 149 from four Test matches — an anomaly of sorts which he will certainly try to rectify in what could be his last tour of England.

The anticipation can only grow if he fails to touch the milestone as there will be three more Tests at Trent Bridge, Edgbaston and Kennington Oval — but there is more about this Indian batting line-up than him. The lovers of the game will certainly be looking forward to the triumvirate of Tendulkar, Dravid and Laxman (of the Fab Four) stamping their class once again in what could be their last tour of England together.

It will be a sense of déjà vu with which Dravid will be walking out at the Lord's this time — for it's where The Wall started his journey 15 years ago. Both Dravid and Laxman are two of the modern day greats who, thanks to their understated style, have not often enjoyed their share of the limelight and would look to sign off this tour in a blaze of glory.

However, the England team that they run into is really a different kettle of fish — with them showing a remarkable consistency in the longer version of the game over the last two years. A 2-0 or 3-1 series victory can see England leapfrog over India to the world number one spot in the Test rankings, and Alistair Cook has fired the first salvo by declaring they are not going to settle for anything less.

While statistics don't always reveal the truth, there is this one about Cook which gives an inkling about why England has turned out to be the most improved team in recent times. In case he posts a fifty at Lord's, he would be equalling a world record for most consecutive fifties (seven), shared by Sir Everton Weekes (West Indies), Shivnarine Chanderpaul (West Indies) and his coach Andy Flower (Zimbabwe).

The comprehensive Ashes win earlier this year — and on Australian soil to boot — has certainly worked wonders for the morale of Strauss and company. It's certainly Flower who has to be credited with instilling that sense of self belief in this England team — and it's men like Jonathon Trott and Ian Bell who typify the spirit of this new England.

If there is any catchline to sum up the essence of this series, it should run: "Watch the Indian batting legends take on the might of the English bowling."

The giants Chris Tremlett and Tim Bresnan with their ability to hit the deck, a matured James Anderson along with the canny Graeme Swann can prove to be quite a handful for the Indian batsmen.

Post Script: The Lord's Test, incidentally, is also the 100th Test match between the two countries.

Now, how's that for a coincidence ?