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England will be playing three Tests and seven
one-day internationals on their twelfth full tour
of India. The international segment of the tour
will begin on 1st March 2006, when Rahul Dravid and
Andrew Flintoff (standing in as captain in the
absence of Michael Vaughan and Marcus Trescothick)
will make their way to the middle of Nagpur's VCA
Stadium, for the toss in the first Test match.
Following are brief profiles of the venues that
will be staging the Tests and ODIs:
Nagpur - England is yet to play a Test at
this venue. India has mixed success here with two
victories and as many defeats with the remaining
four matches ending in draws.
Mohali - England's only Test appearance
here was during their last visit in 2001-02, and it
resulted in a ten-wicket defeat for them. India
lost to the West Indies in the inaugural Test
played here by an equally big margin of 243 runs.
The four other Tests that have been played here
have all been drawn.
Mumbai - England have played as many as
five Tests at the Wankhede Stadium. They won a
solitary game; the Golden Jubilee Test in 1979-80.
India have on the other hand registered three
victories against England at this venue. India also
posted six more wins versus other opponents,
including one in the last Test to be played at this
venue; against Australia in 2004-05. India have
also lost a Test each to the West Indies, New
Zealand, South Africa and Australia. Six Tests have
been drawn.
THE ODI VENUES
Delhi - England have played two matches at
the Ferozeshah Kotla Stadium and won both. They
beat Sri Lanka in the 1989 Nehru Cup, and India on
their previous tour in 2001-02. India have won six
of their eleven ODIs at this venue.
Faridabad - England haven't played an ODI
here. India have managed a solitary win out of five
outings - not a happy hunting ground for the home
team.
Goa - England will be making their maiden
appearance at the Nehru Stadium, which has not
hosted any international for the last five years
since the infamous ticket scam. It too isn't one of
the Indian team's favourite grounds. India have
lost all three matches played here.
Kochi - India have scored three wins out of
four matches, while England haven't played an ODI
at this picturesque ground.
Guwahati - The Nehru Stadium has so far
staged eleven ODIs but England haven't played here
as yet. India have won four out of seven games,
giving them a success quotient of 57.14.
Jamshedpur - The steel city has witnessed a
solitary match between India and England almost 14
years ago, in which the visitors emerged triumphant
by six wickets. Not a lucky venue from the Indian
point of view, for the home team has won just one
game out of the eight played here.
Indore - The ground here has been named
after Jawaharlal Nehru, like its counterparts in
Guwahati, Pune, Kochi and Goa. It has staged nine
limited-overs matches so far, but none of them have
featured England. India have won only two out of
seven encounters, with one game ending in a tie and
another failing to produce a result.
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