Cook needs his batsmen to dig in and beat the odds

England look prepared to drop vice-captain, Stuart Broad, and while Cook was careful not to let anything slip, he was unstinting in his praise for the likely replacement, Steve Finn. “He’s got a little bit more pace than the other guys and he’s bowled well on the sub-continent before,” he said.

It would be a mistake to assume that spin will dominate as it did in Mumbai, where the England spinners, Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar, took 19 of the 20 wickets. History, ancient and modern, suggest that pace will have a part to play in the first innings.

There is a feeling that reverse swing could also be significant, which may please England. Their pace bowlers have claimed only two wickets in the series so far, both of them falling to Jimmy Anderson.

Broad has taken 40 Test wickets this year, more than any other seam bowler except Vernon Philander, of South Africa, who has had an exemplary sequence of matches. But he has been distinctly off the pace in every sense in India.

Dropping Broad would be a big call, not least because of his status in the side but equally it would be perverse to keep Finn waiting any longer.

Dhoni has made no apologies for his continual pleas for pitches favouring spin and returned to the theme today. He said: “It is playing to our strengths but the important thing is to play wickets which give both sides a chance to win and the challenge is for people to be tested in different conditions.”

In a radical move away from their normal policy of strict continuity, England are likely to make a second change to a winning side. Ian Bell, who has returned after paternity leave, will probably replace Jonny Bairstow.

Whatever the bowlers do and not do, the engine room of the batting order has to start delivering for England to have a chance of prevailing.

No half-century has been scored yet by England’s No3, No5 or No6 in the first two matches and if that does not change at Eden Gardens the wave of optimism prompted by the Mumbai win could swiftly recede.

Bell owes England runs as much as anybody. His class is not in question but he has made 522 runs in 21 innings this year at an average of 29. He is certain that the birth of his son, Joe, two weeks ago will lend a fresh perspective to his batting.

England have not played a Test match at Eden Gardens for 20 years. On their last visit they fielded four seamers and were promptly outclassed by India’s three spinners.

The balance of the sides will be more or less equal this time and first innings runs, albeit slowly accumulated, will be as significant as ever.

India were chastened by their heavy defeat in Mumbai and everywhere they go there are questions about the futures of Dhoni as captain and Sachin Tenduklar as a player.

They will only become more strident if they fail here. England can expect a response on a grand scale but, with Mumbai fresh in their minds, the chances of adding to their victory 35 years ago should not be discounted.