With the last four balls he's bowled to Andrew Flintoff in Tests, Anil Kumble has dismissed him three times. Everyone knew Flintoff was Kumble's bunny in the winter, but nobody knew that myxomatosis had set in to that extent. Our graph shows where Kumble bowled to Flintoff. Over 80 of his deliveries (18 out of 22) pitched on a good length, and that included all three dismissals. Twice Flintoff was caught off bat and pad, and the other time he chopped on an attempted cut shot.

Flintoff is a big man, but he was in seriously bad shape against Kumble. He batted like a startled rabbit, just as another Roses man, Richard Blakey, had been against the Kumble flipper on England's previous visit to India, in 1992-93. Things started well enough for Flintoff, who scored 10 off the first 18 balls he received from Kumble and didn't look in too much trouble. Then the roof caved in.

Kumble stripped him bare in humiliating fashion, but Flintoff is by no means a bad player of slow bowling. Apart from Kumble, no spinner has nabbed him more than once in Tests - and he will fancy his chances of muscling Kumble out of it on his own patch.

Conditions in England are completely different - not least for Kumble. He averages 21 against England in India, but a dismal 63 against them in England. Goliath might just be about to have his revenge.

Rob Smyth is on the staff of Wisden.com.

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