England Spirit never better-Prior

England may not have enjoyed their preperation against spin and will be without strike bowler Steve Finn,but their confidence and unity is surely intact. . Having said that,their true unity will be seen and tested on the hot afternoons when they are put into a position which isn't exactly the greatest.

Matt Prior has said "We go into this Test match feeling fully prepared that we've covered every base," Prior said. "We've had a very good and long preparation phase this time around. We have been able to hit a lot of balls and play a lot of cricket on these types of wickets. We have given ourselves the best chance. We have prepared as well as we can. It's now down to performing on the pitch.

"There are certain things that we do now in our net sessions and in our training and our thought processes that are very different to other England teams I've toured with. If you keep doing what you always did, you keep getting what you've always got. I think the records speak for themselves: how long it's been since England last won out here.

"So to come out here and win in that environment would be even better. All these little challenges lead to something that, if we could pull it off, would be a fantastic honour to be part of."


The key to the series may well prove to be how England deal with the Indian spinners. And, perhaps, how they deal with the scars of the series against Pakistan in the UAE when all their

"That series is always in the back of your mind," Prior admitted. "But, as an international sportsman, you have to be pretty thick skinned and able to move on. I hope we learn from our experiences and mistakes and take them forward into these Test matches.

"I think it's going to be tough. But out of those tough challenges come your great rewards. Winning the Ashes in Australia was a tough challenge but it felt even better at the end of it because it was tough. If it was easy it's not as much fun if you come out on top."