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 The 2012 India vs England Test series was a resounding success for the visitors.
After India won the 1st rubber by a convincing margin, Andy Flower asked for his team to be judged on the whole series. Many questioned his faith, yet Andy could see that the ingredients were beginning to come together. This is how they did it:
Batting like Dravid
Against spin, England were looking to get as close to ball bounce OR as far away from ball bounce as possible, especially when attacking.
Using the depth of the crease proved to be key in this method and it was excellent to see improved footwork in all of the England batters as they took practice methods into the middle.
This was especially evident when England bought Joe Root into the melting pot in the final test. Joe did exactly as he has been asked by the coaching staff and this method gave him a fifty and 20 not out to start his Test career.
Letting Monty be Monty
Monty Panesar fell out of the reckoning as an International player when he started to vary his pace and try and develop different deliveries.
After a couple of years of hurt, Monty has reverted to his super-strength of fast paced deliveries into a length. These balls can either turn sharply or run on into the stumps to collect LBW. Monty simply bowls the same ball over and over. Natural variation makes him special.
It's great that Monty is allowed to be himself again. He has the strength of character to say "No, this is what I do" rather than bowl like others desire.
Captaincy by example
In truth, there is only way to lead and that is through example and performance.
In 'Chef's' first major tour as Test captain he did exactly that. At one point Cook was out on the field for 94% of the balls bowled in the series. Cook's 562 runs at 80.28 set the standard for the others to follow.
Perfect leadership.
Accepting the 'bad boy'
There is nothing like a historic win to put recent trouble behind you and that's exactly what England achieved.
By making Kevin Pietersen a key part of things, he performed miracles in Mumbai during that innings of 186 which pulled England back into the series. Many have called it KP's finest work with the bat.
Solid specific selection
England's selection of Nick Compton to open was a master stroke.
Having 3 solid players at the top of the order gave England the foundation to bat long and post competitive totals that gave Jimmy Anderson and the spinners some scoreboard pressure.
The goal in Test cricket in India is to long in the 1st innings. The game generally has a shape of 'Slow, Slow, Quicker, Fast!'
The way the pitches deteriorate mean that the final 2 innings are the most tricky to bat. The spinners pick up wickets at an accelerated rate on days 4 and 5. If you bat too quick in the first innings you are likely to lose wickets and end up 100 short of a match winning foundation.
England scored 413 in 121 overs in the 1st Innings in Mumbai, 523 in 167 overs at Kolkata and 330 in 146 overs in Nagpur to get their 3 crucial results. This was in no small part to the solid contribution of Compton's partnerships with Cook and Trott.
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Menno Gazendam is author of Spin Bowling Project. 
