First Test, Nagpur: India v England
Starts at 0430 GMT
Injury-hit England are set for their toughest task yet as they open their three-match Test series against India on Wednesday.
England head into the opening match in Nagpur, aiming to win their first Test series in India in 21 years.
The team's last victory came in 1985 when David Gower's side triumphed 2-1.
But all-rounder Andrew Flintoff makes debut as captain, with skipper Michael Vaughan, Marcus Trescothick and Simon Jones all missing from the squad.
The tourists certainly face a daunting challenge as they struggle to overcome a series of injury setbacks and get to grips with the conditions in India.
Vaughan was ruled out with a knee injury two days after vice captain Trescothick withdrew for personal reasons, while fast bowler Jones became the latest casualty when he twisted his left knee in the nets on Monday.
England' two tours of the country since the 1985 win have resulted in 3-0 and 1-0 defeats.
And last weekend's eight-wicket loss to a Cricket Board President's XI gave an early indication of the bowling onslaught the batsmen can expect in Nagpur.
The deliberate heavy watering of the outfield at Nagpur will reduce the chances of England's seamers finding reverse swing, while the grassless, dry pitch will take spin from the start.
But spinners Shaun Udal, Monty Panesar and Ian Blackwell look unlikely to trouble Indian batsmen weaned on slow bowling.
However, Flintoff remains unfazed, saying: "It is an opportunity for a young side, opportunities arise for young players to show the character and strength of this England side."
Among the changes, Essex batsman Alastair Cook looks almost certain to win his first cap as Andrew Strauss's new opening partner.
And an uncapped spinner, either Panesar or Blackwell, is set to partner Udal in the attack.
But India coach Greg Chappell has warned against underestimating injury-hit England.
"They are a very good side. They still have good back-up players and they are keen to improve their record in India. We know they will be a formidable opposition," he said.
India's selectors have opted for youth in their line-up, which includes uncapped seamers Vikram Rajvir Singh and Sri Sreesanth and one-day batsman Suresh Raina.
Teenage leg-spinner Piyush Chawla, seen as a successor to Kumble, has also added to a side which has axed former captain Saurav Ganguly.
Kumble, 35, needs just six wickets to become only the fifth bowler in Test history to achieve 500 wickets.
England will play seven one-dayers after the three back-to-back Test matches.
The second Test will be played in Mohali on 9-13 March and the third in Mumbai (Bombay) on 18-22 March.
India (from): R Dravid (capt), V Sehwag, W Jaffer, SR Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, MS Dhoni (wicketkeeper), M Kaif, SK Raina, IK Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, A Kumble, P Chawla, S Sreesanth, RP Singh, VR Singh
England (from): A Flintoff (captain), AJ Strauss, AN Cook, IR Bell, PD Collingwood, KP Pietersen, MJ Prior, GO Jones (wicketkeeper), ID Blackwell, MJ Hoggard, SJ Harmison, MS Panesar, SD Udal, LE Plunkett, JM Anderson
Umpires: Aleem Dar (Pakistan) & IL Howell (South Africa)
Match referee: RS Madugalle (Sri Lanka)
(BBC)
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