There could be no worse time for India to begin a Test series. And no worse place to play it at than Mohali, where India take on England tomorrow in the first of three Test matches - which are, thankfully, official. First, the time. India have just come from South Africa, where they lost the two Test series 1-0, and also lost the unofficial third Test at Centurion. Non-cricketing matters, no doubt, caused a lot of stress in the Indian camp, but what happened on the field was equally devastating. India's bowlers, barring Javagal Srinath in the second Test, were made to look like club-level trundlers, and both Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh were completely ineffectual: you would never have known they were India's main strike bowler of the last ten years and the big hope for the future. The batsmen were induced - not that much persuasion was needed - into collapsing time and time again, which ended up destroying the confidence of the entire team.

India were in a similar situation in 1992-93, when they took on England at home after being thrashed by South Africa away. Then Mohammad Azharuddin's captaincy was on the line. India thrashed England, and saved Azhar's job. But this is different. Not just because the time is wrong, but because the place is too.

Mohali has always been an anachronism among Indian centres: its hard green-top pitches have traditionally supported pace bowling, and the last time India played a Test here, an innocuous New Zealand pace attack - Cairns, Nash and O'Connor - bundled India out for 83.

The conditions this time are no different. If ever a pitch could be described as lush green, it is this. There is a pleasant chill in the air that will make the Englishmen feel at home, and there is certain to be some dew on the pitch when play begins at 10am. If India bat first, Hoggard, Johnson or Ormond, White and Flintoff will get a chance to prove a point to all those who say this is a second-rate England attack. India must not take them lightly - especially in these conditions.

Matters are compounded by the unsettled nature of India's opening partnership. Das is certain to play, but like a serial womaniser, he has no idea who he will wake up to find beside him. Williams played well for his 42 in the second innings at Centurion, but picking him means playing only four bowlers. India would like to play three pacers on a surface like this - even if Ganguly is reportedly not happy with the men he has been given - but they would also love to play both Kumble and Harbhajan, trusty matchwinners at home. This can only happen if either Deep Dasgupta or Sanjay Bangar opens.

Bangar opens both the batting and the bowling for Railways in India's Ranji Trophy, so don't be surprised if he walks out there tomorrow with Das. Though India would probably much prefer to put England in so that their pace line-up of Bangar, Tinu Yohannan and Iqbal Siddiqui can show their wiles; all that, while making their debuts.

India (possible) 1 SS Das, 2 SB Bangar, 3 R Dravid, 4 SR Tendulkar, 5 SC Ganguly (capt), 6 VVS Laxman, 7 D Dasgupta (wk), 8 A Kumble, 9 Harbhajan Singh, 10 Iqbal Siddiqui, 11 T Yohannan.

Amit Varma is assistant editor, Wisden.com India.

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