Flexibility the key, says Vaughan

'"We just have to come up with what we think is our best formula to get twenty wickets and put India under pressure" © Getty Images

Michael Vaughan, the England captain, and Duncan Fletcher, the coach, identified "putting up a big first innings score" as their top priority for success against India. Fletcher cited the need to post big first innings totals as the biggest lesson that England had learnt from the defeat in Pakistan. "The batters didn't get a big total in the first innings and in these [subcontinent] conditions it's very crucial."

Speaking to reporters at the Taj Hotel, after arriving in Mumbai earlier today, Vaughan and Fletcher admitted losing Ashley Giles before the tour was a "great disappointment" but saw it as an opportunity for Shaun Udal, Monty Panesar and Ian Blackwell to establish themselves. "He is our most experienced spin bowler and has performed here before but it creates great opportunity for the three guys who don't have much Test experience. The pitches could be spinner friendly and it's a chance for them to show us what they can do," Vaughan said.

Vaughan refused to divulge the kind of tactics he would adopt, except to emphasise that he would be flexible. In the last tour Giles operated from over the wicket, pitching it just outside leg stump in an attempt to frustrate Sachin Tendulkar and the other Indian batsmen. "It's tough to say, we will have to wait and see. If you remember, Giles got Tendulkar stumped for the first time in Test match cricket. So it can't be that much of a negative tactic. It will depend on the conditions, how our bowlers are bowling, how their [Indian] batsmen are playing and the match situation. We certainly won't be going with one definite tactic," Vaughan said.

"We just have to come up with what we think is our best formula to get twenty wickets and put India under pressure. I remember the Mohali Test where the seam bowlers played a big role, we just want to concentrate on our performance."

Talking about the SG brand of balls that are likely to be used in the series, Fletcher said: "It doesn't matter, we just have to use them. Simon Jones [who recently spent some time at Dennis Lillee's academy in Chennai] got it to swing conventionally with the new ball and once it got roughed up he managed to reverse swing."

Fletcher believed Simon Jones could be play a crucial role and admitted missing him during the Pakistan tour. "We believe that the Indian tracks tend to favour skiddy bowlers and that's Jones's strength. He bowls quickly, skids the ball and gets it swing. We believe he would be very effective here."

Vaughan was of the opinion that the last Ashes series has raised the profile of cricket across the world and believed that Indian fans will enjoy "characters" in the English side like Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen.

Asked about the gap of almost five years since England last visited in India in 2002, Vaughan put it down to a busy international schedule. "It's the way the schedule is sorted out, we have to play every other team around the world. We enjoy coming to India, we always know it will be a good and hard tour. It's a great country to visit."

On a lighter note, when reminded about his bizarre dismissal `handling the ball' last time England toured, Vaughan said with a smile, "Thanks for reminding. My hands will be on the bat this time, I shall try not to touch the ball." Vaughan also expressed satisfaction with the itinerary and said he "looked forward to visiting all the special places your country [India] has to offer".