Gavaskar optimistic of a clean sweep

AFP

Gavaskar optimistic of a clean sweep

India can go on and beat England 4-0 in the upcoming Test series, provided they win the first Test match, feels former India captain Sunil Gavaskar.

"I have always believed that home teams have an edge," Gavaskar said.

"They are familiar with the conditions. They are able to be in the surroundings they are comfortable in. You know the pitch conditions.

"The first Test becomes an important factor. You derive strength from that. If India wins the first Test, I don't think England will be able to make a come back," Gavaskar said.

He maintained that the batting looks depleted with the retirement of senior players like Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman and the opening pair of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir struggling for form.

"The batting looks a bit shaky. The opening pair's form doesn't look that good. Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman have retired. Cheteshwar Pujara is new. The batting looks a bit weakened to what we had earlier.

"Just now the season has started... if the players are in form then even we can score 500-600 runs. In bowling, Umesh Yadav is new. Pragyan Ojha and R Ashwin's combination has not become that popular. It is not the same attack we had a couple of years ago," he said.

Asked to predict the outcome of the series, Gavaskar hoped India would make a clean sweep.

"It is hard to predict but I hope so. I hope it is 4-0 against England and 4-0 against Australia. It is what we suffered in 2011," he said.

Gavaskar conceded that the opening pair is woefully out of form, but said it is premature to think about tinkering with it.

"It is good that there is competition because competition ensures that nobody takes his place for granted. We have got a set opening pair with Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag.

"Unless the situation is dire, unless the situation is that somebody is so out of form, I don't think we should be doing unnecessary changes.

"We have got a pair who understand each other, (it) is not an easy thing. It takes time for a new pair, new combination to settle. I think we should wait a bit before taking any decision," he said.

On the much-debated number six spot that is up for grabs, he said, "After Yuvi's performance with not just the bat but also the five wickets, he gives the extra flexibility to the skipper. He brings in different angle of attack. Down the order at no.6 if he gets going, he can smash any attack.

"Yuvraj has made a case for himself. The way he bowled and the way he has batted. He brings another option. He gives the captain flexibility in terms of bowling and batting. One of England's leading and dangerous batsmen Kevin Pietersen has been susceptible to left-hand spinner."

Asked about captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni's form and trying out different captains for different formats, he said, "Dhoni's form will not be a worry on Indian pitches. The Australian system of picking the best 11 and then choosing the captain I think is very good. None of the players have doubt about a person's place in the team.

"As of now Mahendra Singh Dhoni is an automatic choice.

"If he is an automatic selection then he continues to be the captain. When he is not an automatic selection then you can look at somebody else being the captain."