Englands batting versus spinR Ashwin tweeted his congratulations after Bangladesh secured their historic Test win over England last month - but the details of Englands collapse on the third evening in Dhaka, when they lost 10 wickets in a session, surely excited him even more. The teenaged Mehedi Hasan, an orthodox offspinner, picked up his third six-for in four innings to be named Man of the Series and left England in no doubt about the size of the challenge facing them on the subcontinent. Ashwin recently claimed 27 wickets at 17.77 in three Tests against New Zealand, while Ravindra Jadeja is a metronomic menace on helpful surfaces, and they are primed to pick apart English techniques against spin; among the top seven, only Alastair Cook (who averages 61.85 in India) has significant experience of the conditions. Englands batsmen face not so much a learning curve as a cliff if they are to avoid getting turned over.The leading lights: Kohli and RootIndias captain, Virat Kohli, sets the tone in the field and with bat in hand, while England will seek inspiration from Joe Root, the highest-ranked batsman on either side. For both, this could be a defining series. Kohli has banked more than his share of failures against England, averaging 20.12 in 17 Test innings, but has a vastly improved record since taking over from MS Dhoni, which includes two double-hundreds in the last four months. Root, meanwhile, has established himself among the best in his generation since making 73 on debut in Nagpur four years ago - but is still awaiting a first Test hundred in Asia. Sam Billings, one of the few Englishmen to play in the IPL, says Kohli and Root share a work ethic that sets them apart. Theyre both seriously, seriously good, he said. Id go as far as to say theyre freaks, but with a kind of un-freakish nature. May the best freak win.India versus Moeen Ali: Round TwoDuring the summer of 2014, England faced a dilemma about how to replace Graeme Swann. Moeen Ali was picked and, despite an underwhelming debut series against Sri Lanka, he suckered India spectacularly on the way to 19 wickets at 23.00 as England came from behind for a 3-1 series win. A couple of years on and England still have plenty of problems in the spin department but Moeen is sure to have a key role (not least because of his batting). He admitted in Bangladesh that he is still nowhere near where I want to be as a spinner and has struggled with the demands of leading an inexperienced spin attack: wicket-taking deliveries will doubtless materialise but control remains an issue. Bangladesh and, in particular, Pakistan have found success in attacking Moeen but that was Indias downfall in their last meeting. If Moeen maintains his mozz, things could get interesting.The role of the rookiesIndia have three uncapped players in their 15-man squad, while England head into the first Test having fielded a debutant in their previous two matches. Indias young guns, Hardik Pandya and Karun Nair, may be in a shootout for one place but the absence of Rohit Sharma means an inexperienced pivot at No. 6 (unless they go for a five-man attack); there is also the possibility of KL Rahul returning from injury to win his 10th Test cap, should Gautam Gambhirs latest comeback not go to plan. For the tourists, there is a decision to make on whether to stick Ben Duckett and his reverse-sweep stylings at the top of the order - after one fifty in four innings in Bangladesh - or bring in another new face in Haseeb Hameed. England may also stick with Zafar Ansari, on the grounds that he will turn the ball away from Indias right-handers. By Christmas, some of those names might ring a few more bells.Batsman-wicketkeeper versus wicketkeeper-batsman Jonny Bairstow is two-thirds of the way through a record-breaking year as Englands Test wicketkeeper. In Bangladesh, he first passed Andy Flowers mark for the most runs by a wicketkeeper in a calendar year (and could still eclipse Michael Vaughans overall England record); then he moved ahead of Matt Prior with the most calendar year dismissals for England. And yet… as soon as Bairstow drops a chance, as he did in the Chittagong Test, the murmurs about whether he merits the gloves will return. Five matches in six weeks in India will stretch him in every way imaginable and the scrutiny will be sharpened by the contrast with the oppositions man. Wriddhiman Saha is something of a throwback, a wicketkeeper first and batsman second (although he can certainly hold his own), tidying up assiduously behind the stumps. He was only required to take two catches in three Tests against New Zealand but, after almost two years in the job, he has achieved the wicketkeepers grail: not being talked about. Nike Free Sale Australia . Breaking three of his own world records on his way to winning in Paris, Chan silenced the critics and left the audiences standing in appreciation and awe. Cheap Nike Free Shoes . Once again Jordan Cieciwa (@FitCityJordan) and I (@LynchOnSports) go head to head in our picks. Last weekend at UFC Fight Night 32 my #TeamLynch got the best of #TeamJC by a score of 9-6. Let us know which side youre on for UFC 167 use the hashtag #TeamLynch or #TeamJC on Twitter. http://www.nikefreecheapaustralia.com/ . Pence singled in the winning run with no outs in the ninth inning to give the Giants a 7-6 victory over the San Diego Padres on Sunday. Nike Free Australia Online . The All-Pro lineman got the leg bent under him while trying to make a tackle during the first half of a 22-20 overtime loss at Miami on Thursday night. The medical staff initially thought hed torn the ligament, and the test a day later in Cincinnati confirmed it. Nike Free On Sale . Capitals head coach Adam Oates said Ovechkin was injured in the first period against the Vancouver Canucks on Monday and clarified it was not a head injury. WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- No. 15 Purdue kept making No. 3 Villanova hold its breath Monday night.Josh Hart made sure the Wildcats followed the same old beat.The preseason All-America guard scored 24 points, made big shot after big shot and calmly sank the final four free throws of the game to help the defending national champions hang on for a 79-76 victory.Josh just said to me at the beginning of the second half that `we got this, Wildcats coach Jay Wright said. Thats the real strength of this team -- the leadership. I think thats what you saw the start of the second half.Villanova (2-0) has won eight straight games, including the six NCAA Tournament wins that led to last seasons national championship. And as far as early-season victories go, this was about as big as they come.Purdue had won nine straight on its home court and had only lost one previous November game since Matt Painter took over as coach in 2006-07.The difference was Villanova had Hart, who finished three points short of his career high, and the Boilermakers didnt have an answer.We had to do a better job on Josh Hart, Painter said. Their overall toughness is among the best in the country.Purdue sure didnt make it easy on the Wildcats, who made their first seven shots of the second half and charged to a 56-45 lead.The Boilermakers rallied behind Isaac Haas and Caleb Swanigan, who combined for five straight baskets during a flurry that pulled Purdue to 61-60. Haas scored 18 of his 22 points in the second half, and Swanigan had 20 points, eight rebounds and four assists.But with Harts shooting and the Wildcats stout defense, the Boilermakers never took the lead, never tied the score and couldnt make either 3-pointer that could have forced overtime in the waning seconds.This game was huge for us, playing a great team, a very disciplined team in that crazy environment, Hart said.Darryl Reynolds had 12 points and eeight rebounds for Villanova.dddddddddddd.BIG PICTUREVillanova: The Wildcats passed their biggest test of November -- barely. Now theyve got five games over the next 15 days, three more by Sunday, to get everything in sync.Purdue: This early test showed the Boilermakers can play with the big boys. Beating them might still be a challenge if they dont find more perimeter shooting.COUNT ITThe Boilermakers erased a 39-34 deficit in the final 40 seconds of the first half with a layup from Swanigan and after Vince Edwards scooped up a loose ball and got it to guard P.J. Thompson, who banked in a buzzer-beating 3 from midcourt to tie it. The crowd went wild long before a replay review confirmed the original call that it counted.RARE AIRPurdue is 12-14 when facing a defending national champ. But having one from outside the Big Ten visit West Lafayette is a rarity. Since hosting UCLA for the opening game on Dec. 2 1967, it had happened only one other time before Monday: Against Louisville on Jan. 18, 1987. UCLA won the first game 73-71, but the Boilermakers beat Louisville 88-73.POLL IMPLCATIONSVillanova: The Wildcats proved theyre worthy of a high ranking with a quality road victory but will be hard-pressed to move up unless No. 1 Duke or No. 2 Kentucky lose.Purdue: The Boilermakers arent likely to slide much, if at all, after coming within a basket or two of upsetting a top-5 team.UP NEXTVillanova: On Thursday, the Wildcats face Western Michigan in Charleston, South Carolina, as they begin chasing a fourth straight in-season tourney title.Purdue: Hosts Georgia State on Friday, marking the return of former IUPUI coach Ron Hunter. The Boilermakers are 24-2 at Mackey Arena over the last 26 games.---More AP college basketball: http://collegebasketball.ap.org ' ' '
