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As in Vizag this week, England walked off the field in Ahmedabad in 2012 with a whopping defeat against our names - beaten by nine wickets - to go 1-0 down in the series. But there wasnt any panic in the group. I remember we had a relaxing evening on the roof terrace after the match, it was a good night. It wasnt a massive debrief, or anything, there werent any Churchillan speeches, but we just chatted as a group.Despite the margin of defeat, we had actually finished the match not feeling too bad about life. After being asked to follow-on we showed plenty of spirit - and skill - in the second innings and it made a huge difference, helping to instil the belief that we could play their bowling. It was nice to help set the tone with Alastair Cook and, as a team, we grew from there.We knew if we could keep India out there, bowling for longer and longer, that would take them out of their comfort zone and we felt they would crack before we did. I think we took them by surprise, they looked lacklustre at times. Sachin Tendulkar and Gautam Gambhir were past their best. They had all the names, but Im not sure it was their best side.It is difficult to draw direct parallels between that England side and this one. In 2012, it was very much a ready-made team. If you look at the ages we were pretty experienced, even myself on debut had been around first-class cricket for a while. But as we did in that second innings in Ahmedabad, this England side have shown over the first two Tests of this series that they can compete with India.You have to get the India players out of their comfort zone, which is what we managed to do four years ago after the opening defeat. The pressure can quickly turn in their backyard. Questions are now being asked of Ajinkya Rahane despite what is a very impressive overall record. If England can keep forcing these questions to be asked it can escalate.There is one glaring difference and thats in the spin department which has been well-documented for a long time now. In Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar we had one of Englands great pairings. But Monty, who was magnificent in Kolkata and Mumbai, had not actually played the first Test where we went with three quicks alongside Swann and Samit Patel. However, it soon became apparent that two quicks and two spinners was the way forward. I remember standing at extra cover to Monty and you always felt in the game; it never felt like India had a plan to either him or Swann.This time, England again have to decide who their best bowlers are. There is an argument to say they need to play to strengths with an extra quick. They can still play two spinners, and Adil Rashids improvement on this tour - which has been one of the most impressive parts of the first two games - suggests he is now far less of a gamble to play as one of a pair. Zafar Ansari has found it tough, and what is really his role?Ive always believed you play your best bowlers, whether they be spinners to seamers. Only people in the camp can judge how individuals are going. How is Steven Finn bowling? He was superb in the Kolkata Test in 2012 but he can struggle, like many bowlers, coming in from the cold. He has played once in Bangladesh but has had precious little cricket since the English season. Still, a fourth quick - be it Finn or Jake Ball - could bring more value than a third spinner. There is talk of Gareth Batty, but if he was so good hed have been playing already.There is one element out of Englands control that they really need some luck with: the toss. You cant say it wasnt important in Vizag. You also saw, when England had the chance to bat first in Rajkot that they were able to put pressure on India.In 2012 we managed to win in Mumbai and Kolkata despite losing the toss and having to bowl first, bowling India out for 327 and 316 in the two first innings, but hand on heart Im not sure I can see that happening this time around. Im naturally positive about this England team, I believe its a very good team with some match-changing players - it certainly isnt beyond them to win a Test - but the toss is looking important. You could see the look in Cooks eyes when he lost it in Vizag because he knows the resources at his disposal.This is another big challenge for Cook the captain. I couldnt understand his use of Moeen Ali, for example, in Vizag. On the 2012 tour he was a raw captain - it was his first series as full-time skipper - but in Swann and Panesar he had two spinners he could basically put on and they did their job. For periods there wasnt a lot of captaining to do, and if needed Swann would help him out. This time he doesnt have that luxury.It was also very much Andy Flowers team. He would do more of the talking and led the intensity. But now its very different. Trevor Bayliss believes its Alastairs team and he runs things completely. The main thing that Trevor has brought to this England team - and youve seen it in the last two Tests - is the fight, attitude and commitment. Even when theyve been down in this series that hasnt wavered. The second innings with the ball in Vizag typified that. I think India would have struggled in the final innings on that surface. You can pick holes in England, but it wasnt easy.Its important to hold your team spirit together when things get tough. It was something we were conscious of in 2012 and I really dont think that will be an issue with this side. Its a very good environment. Alastair is very big on staying together, not becoming too individualistic.England can turn this around. I do not think this is a superstar India team. They are very good at playing from the front in their home conditions, but get them on the back foot and theres a vulnerability there to be exposed.As told to Andrew McGlashan Ray Ban Black Friday Deals .05 million next season unless Graham and the Saints subsequently agree on a long-term deal. The designation was released Monday after the deadline passed for NFL teams to use franchise or transition tags on players becoming free agents. Ray Ban Outlet .com) - The Montreal Canadiens will try to halt their longest losing streak of the season when they host the struggling New York Islanders in tonights clash at the Bell Centre. http://www.cheapraybanchina.com/ .Y. - New Orleans forward Anthony Davis was chosen Friday to replace the injured Kobe Bryant in the NBA All-Star game that will be played in his home city. Clearance Ray Ban Sunglasses .Y. - Rob Manfred was promoted Monday to Major League Baseballs chief operating officer, which may make him a candidate to succeed Bud Selig as commissioner. Discount Ray Ban China .25 million option on reliever Jose Veras. MADRID -- Zinedine Zidane has matched another feat by Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid.With two first-half goals by Cristiano Ronaldo, Zidanes Madrid defeated Sporting Gijon 2-1 in the Spanish league on Saturday to equal the 31-game unbeaten run by Ancelottis team in the 2013-14 season.Zidane already matched the former Madrid manager by winning the Champions League last season, a title Ancelotti won with the Spanish powerhouse in 2014, when Zidane was an assistant coach.This is positive, but its not my individual achievement, Zidane said. Its an achievement by the whole team. You have to congratulate the players on these numbers.Saturdays win in pouring rain at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium -- thanks in part to a late penalty kick missed by Sporting -- also gave Madrid a six-point lead over Sevilla, which jumped to second place by defeating Valencia 2-1. Third-place Barcelona plays on Sunday at fifth-place Real Sociedad to try to get back within four points of Madrid before their clasico next week at Camp Nou.Madrid, which has won six in a row in the league, hasnt been defeated since April at Wolfsburg in the quarterfinals of last seasons Champions League. It has won 23 games since then.Madrids all-time unbeaten run of 34 games was under coach Leo Beenhakker in the 1988-89 season. Barcelona holds the unbeaten record in Spain of 39 consecutive games last season, a streak that ended with a defeat to Madrid.Madrid was heavily favored against Sporting, which had lost seven of its previous nine league games.The hosts got off to a good start as Ronaldo -- who had a hat trick against Atletico Madrid in last weekends derby -- scored from the penalty spot in the fifth minute and from a header in the 18th.Sporting pulled one closer through Carlos Carmona in the 35th and had chances to equalize in the second half. The best one came with Duje Cops shot from the penalty spot but the ball sailed high and wide.We can be happy with the three points but we cant be happy with the performance of our team, Zidane said. We let the gaame become difficult for us.ddddddddddddSporting, which hasnt won since the third round, is 18th in the 20-team standings.It was Madrids first game since losing Gareth Bale because of a right ankle injury that is expected to sideline him for at least two months. Zidane used Lucas Vazquez in the attack beside Ronaldo and Karim Benzema.Elsewhere:SEVILLA 2, VALENCIA 1Defender Nicolas Pareja scored in the 75th minute to give host Sevilla its second consecutive victory and keep Valencia winless for a fifth straight game.Valencia had a great chance in the fourth minute of stoppage time but Jose Gayas close-range shot was brilliantly saved by Sevilla goalkeeper Sergio Rico.The result kept former Italy coach Cesare Prandelli with only one victory in six games since taking the helm of the traditional Spanish club in October. Following a 2-1 win in Prandellis debut against Sporting Gijon, Valencia has lost three times and drawn twice.Valencia is 16th in the standings, two points above the relegation zone.MALAGA 4, DEPORTIVO LA CORUNA 3Substitute midfielder Javi Ontiveros scored two minutes into second-half injury time to give Malaga its fifth straight win at home and extend Deportivo La Corunas winless streak to six games.Deportivo scored first just four minutes into the thrilling match, but it needed two late goals to even the match after conceding three. Its effort proved fruitless as Ontiveros netted the late winner.Malagas second goal was a superb right-footed free kick shot by former Barcelona player Sandro Ramirez.Malaga, coming off a 0-0 draw against Barcelona in the Camp Nou, moved to ninth place, while Deportivo -- yet to win an away game -- remained 17th.ESPANYOL 3, LEGANES 0Forward Gerard Moreno scored in the first half and striker Pablo Piatti netted twice in the second as Espanyol extended its unbeaten run to seven matches.---Tales Azzoni on Twitter: http://twitter.com/tazzoni ' ' '