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India's tour of England -- an assessment

But we must not turn a Nelson's eye to the stark realities. And the fact is Team India was against a woefully poor England side, without some of its key players in the entire series. It goes without saying that the presence of Steve Harmison, Matthew Hoggard and, of course, Andrew Flintoff would have made a lot of difference to England's fortunes.

The Indian batsmen were often found wanting in technique and temperament when facing James Anderson. Imagine their plight if they had to face the pace quartet of Anderson, Harmison, Hoggard and Flintoff on the ever changing, unpredictable English wickets.

The Indian bowlers were lucky enough that there was no Flintoff to frustrate them, for he is one of those few genuine all-rounders in contemporary cricket who can change the course of a match in a jiffy with bat or ball; or both.