Reasons why Ind-Eng series won't generate enthusiasm

New Delhi: After much anticipation, India's long awaited England tour, of five Test matches, seven ODIs and one Twenty 20 is now underway. Given India's track record in overseas tests recently, Indian cricket fans are rather apprehensive as the Indian cricket team embarks on one of its toughest challenges recently.One of the biggest challenges that Team India has to face is the duration of the tour. Spread for nearly three months, it will be a demanding task for the visitors, consisting mostly of faces who are touring England first time for a Test series, to keep up the spirit and continue fighting unabated. However, this can also work in the favour of India as the long tour gives the team time to recover from early losses and mistakes and rectify them. The recent Anderson-Jadeja controversy has made this series more challenging for both the sides. It would be interesting to see how it will go further. However apart from the controversies and exhilaration, this England tour of India may not generate enthusiasm as expected.No matter who wins the series, the cricket fans who were hoping for a crackling test series or a test of real nerve and steel may not get what they want. India TV points out certain key reason that why this series won't be a big success in terms of quality play:1) Two relatively mediocre sides pitting against each otherIndia and England, both teams have been struggling with their form in their respective past fixtures. What India are dealing with is the horror of their last tour to England in 2011. To say that they were decimated would be an understatement. India lost the four Test match series 4-0 and then went on lose the five match One-Day series 4-0 as well. Apart from this, India's horrendous performances on foreign soils have also been a worry after losing to South Africa and New Zealand in their home grounds. Meanwhile, a lot has changed for England since that last tour as well. Back in 2011, when England had pummeled India, they had also seized India No. 1 ranking in Tests with that victory. England continued their dominance briefly but now a lot seems to have changed. This England side is suddenly looking a lot more vulnerable as was evident in their series loss to Sri Lanka,both in Tests and One-Dayers, just a few weeks back.2) Lack of real match winnersThe hosts and the visitors lack the match winners in their sides. It means the fireworks which was expected might just not happen. The absence of genuine match winners also contributes to the luke response.The fresh legs on the Indian side would be raring to go and pose a tough challenge to England.. Ishant Sharma is the only experienced fast bowler in the side while Ashwin another spin department. So can we expect this team to win the matches….? Not a tough question to answer.. The batting department might have lot of experience but their form is the major concern. The hosts England too lack playerers whom they can call match winners. England had a humiliating defeat in Ashes and recent Sri Lanka series. The players who won the Ashes for England earlier in 2013 have now lost their show. Yes, Stuart Broad took a hat-trick against Sri Lanka but it is the result what matters. England still lost the match and further the series. Sam Robson batted well against the Lankans but what is the use of such innings which cannot win you the match.3) Key players are out of formWhen India came to England, players like Virat Kohli, Pujara, Dhawan and Dhoni were the key players who are expected to light up the stadium with their bat. But since the last foreign tour of New Zealand, all of them seem to be silent. This was the reason India lost Asia Cup and World T20. In the first test of the series against England , barring Murali Vijay's century, batsman likes of Dhoni and Pujara could not win the match despite being at the advantageous situation though they did hit half centuries. A lot was expected from the poster boy of Indian cricket Kohli but he was disappointing in both the innings. The English captain, Alastair Cook is horribly short of form.. The new comers like Robson, Ballance have been good with the bat but players like Ian Bell, Cook and Matt Prior are seen struggling. Apart from Anderson and Stuart Broad, no English bowler has been so effective or looked threatening so far. If ever there is a chance for India to defeat England in their own soil, it is now but captains of both teams seem too defensive for obvious reasons; England for their recent poor performances and India for their drubbing in the last tour. So who are the losers….? Of course connoisseurs of this beautiful game!