India vs England: Five reasons Alastair Cook’s team can win Test series against world’s best team

ENGLAND were thwarted in their victory quest in India against the opening Test against the world’s top-rated nation.

But here John Etheridge reveals the main reasons why the tourists should be delighted with their impressive draw.

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KID HAMEED IS THE REAL DEAL

HASEEB HAMEED is flavour of the week and rightly so. Calm, composed and very talented, the Lancashire lad, 19, could be England’s opener for a decade or more.

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RED-HOT RASH NOW DELIVERING

ADIL RASHID has always been able to deliver the odd unplayable ball. But the spinner has now added more consistency to his game. Good news for the rest of the series.

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CAP’N COOK OUT OF THE DOLDRUMS

CAPTAIN Alastair Cook had just four centuries in his previous 43 Tests, but chiselled out No 30 of his career despite being short of fluency.

BRILLIANT BEN HAS ‘EM IN A SPIN

DURHAM star Ben Stokes kept up his improved play against spin with a superb ton. His stature as one of the world’s best all-rounders is quickly growing.

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RAVI IS RAVAGED BY THE THREE LIONS

INDIAN spinner Ravi Ashwin may be the world’s top-ranked Test bowler but he was all-but neutered by the England batsmen and returned awful match figures of 3-230.