02 November,2012 10:39 PM IST | | A Correspondent
The English cricket team is so desperate to beat India in India that they decided to employ some unique training methods to improve their preparedness.
Not having defeated India in a Test series in the sub-continent since David Gower achieved that feat during the 1984-85 tour, England have left no stone unturned this time around by using a replica of âcrowd noise' and sledging in the nets during their pre-tour camp at Dubai.
According to a report in British newspaper Daily Mail, batsmen were made to bat in the nets to a backdrop of recorded crowd noises. As if this wasn't enough team psychologist Mark Bawden would stand in the adjoining nets andtry to put the batsmen off by clapping and sledging.
England spinner Monty Panesar trains at D Y Patil stadium in Navi Mumbai on Friday. Pic/Sandeep Pangerkar
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England were trying this method in and attempt to replicate, as far as possible, the unique experience of batting in India's noisy stadiums, on turning tracks, surrounded by close-in fielders.
Indian crowds can be over-powering at times, especially for batsmen arriving at the crease not used to the noise and the chaos. And the English team is trying to countermand the advantage the home team usually enjoys which allows them to win mind games against the new man in.
Often the crowd can be noisy out here, and there are a lot of distractions and pressure created by men around the bat. That's what you have to overcome," said cricketer Jimmy Anderson.
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