Three batsmen will have to perform if England [Images] are to have a chance against the spinning threat offered by India in the upcoming tour.

Ian Bell [Images], Andrew Strauss [Images] and Paul Collingwood [Images] have been enjoying differing fortunes in recent months, but all three will be hoping to turn on the style this summer.

ANDREW STRAUSS

Strauss has suffered a drop in form in recent times. After a blstering start to his international career, the Middlesex opener was dug out by the Aussies in the recent Ashes whitewash, struggled for runs in the World Cup and then again against the West Indies [Images].

And yet England remain confident that their part-time, stand-in skipper can return to form.

Strauss hasn't scored a century for the last 19 Test innings, but skipper Michael Vaughan [Images] stressed: "He's a strong character and he's got a lot of experience and I fully expect him to come through because he's got a lot of mental strength and he's a good player.

"I just want to see him get runs. I know how important he is to the team and I know how much he adds to the team even when he's not scoring runs. He's a great player to have around the dressing room, he speaks brilliantly to all the players about situations and is a good thinker when you're on the cricket pitch. Yes, he's not getting runs at the minute but he's adding to the team in an number of other areas."

Strauss answered some critics in the first innings of the last Test against the West Indies, scoring 77 to hold England's innings together when it seemed the visitors were on top for the first time in the series.

Paul Collingwood picked up the mantle with a fine century and Vaughan's went on to win the Test at Durham's Riverside Stadium.

Strauss' contribution as a batsman, good slip-catcher and experienced player in the side is such that England know they need him in-form, and soon.

Since Marcus Trescothick's problems - Strauss' role has been more important than ever.

PAUL COLLINGWOOD

Former limited-over specialist Paul Collingwood has emerged as a crucial cricketer to England at all levels and it was no surprise when he was named the new One-Day skipper in place of the retiring Michael Vaughan.

Collingwood has scored runs at every level, his most recent crucial century against the West Indies in the final Test at his home ground in Durham.

With a decent record against all forms of bowling, it is unlikely Collingwood will be intimidated by India's spinners. He is more keen on guiding England's younger stars through the upcoming series.

The all-rounder is happy to remind any of the more inexperienced players of his own international debut in a one-day clash against Pakistan six years ago when Shahid Afridi [Images] hammered 25 off 24 balls and Azhar Mahmood slammed 38 from 24 balls.

"I can always remember my debut watching Afridi smashing it over backward point off Darren Gough and thinking to myself 'what is going on here?" he recalled. "It likely to be exactly the same for the new guys. There will be times when they will probably miss a good line and length by a matter of inches and get smashed for a big six.

"This is what you learn at international level - the margins are so small and you have to be right on your game."

Collingwood is a superb example for the rest of the squad of what can be achieved from modest beginnings - he scored only 20 runs in his first four appearances and conceded 49 in only 7.1 overs during his maiden NatWest Series against Pakistan and Australia.

Since then he has emerged as one of England's most important players, playing in 124 one-day internationals and 24 Tests. "It took me a hell of a long time to get used to international cricket," he added. "It was a shock to the system and I'll always remember it.

"At the end of that first series I had a realisation that I probably wasn't good enough and it was a massive dent of confidence to believe that.

"It was a very hard series to go into against Pakistan and Australia, but I still wondered whether I was good enough - to do well after that meant a lot to me because I'm sure there were a few doubters about my ability."

IAN BELL

Ian Bell was officially recognised as world cricket's brightest young talent in 2006, and despite dropping down the batting order for England to accommodate the return of skipper Michael Vaughan the Warwickshire batsman has maintained a rich vein of form in the series against the West Indies.

Bell's solidity in the England batting line-up is all the more laudable as he has battled back after a career crisis.

He made a stellar start, scoring 70 on his Test debut against West Indies in August 2004 and enjoying two unbeaten innings against Bangladesh, including his maiden Test century the following summer. But then the Aussies found him out.

Shane Warne [Images] and Glenn McGrath were too much for the young man who scored just 171 in ten innings and was eased out of the international picture.

"It's not easy when things are not going your way," admits Bell. "Looking back to my situation, that's really when you need to keep believing in yourself and make sure you're doing the right things and practising right."

The recovery started that winter when Bell top scored for the series against Pakistan and hammered a classy century at Faisalabad. It was Pakistan who felt the weight of Bell's bat in summer 2006 too as he hit three fine hundreds and then pipped England colleagues Monty Panesar [Images] and Alastair Cook [Images] to win the International Cricket Council's emerging player award.

He scored 958 runs at an average of 41.65 in 13 Tests in 2006 and was equally impressive at the top of England's one-day order.

"It was a good year for me," Bell said. "My team-mates have been great over the past year - it has been really good fun to play with them."

Defeat with honour against the Aussies, including four pugnacious half-centuries, and the miserable World Cup he shared with everyone has been followed by a decent start to the summer back in England.

A century in the first Test against the West Indies at Lord's and 97 in the third at Old Trafford show a player at ease with his game. Whether he can shine against India coudl be key to this summer's series.

- Copyright PA Sport 2007

Also read:
- Dravid Vs Vaughan: Who will emerge victorious?
- Pietersen to keep it simple
- Monty has the 'appeal'
- Flintoff raring to return
- Donald steps up England pace
- Moores faces stiff challenges