India's star-studded batting line up makes it favourites: Shastri

London, July 17 (UNI) With England missing the fire-power in their pace battery due to injury doubts, former all-rounder Ravi Shastri has rated India as the favourites to win the three-match Test series because of their formidable batting lineup.

The 45-year-old cricketer-turned-commentator, who has rendered a 'yeoman service' to Indian cricket including his short stint as Team India coach during the recently concluded Bangladesh tour, said, ''I think India will do well in the Test series. Playing in the second half of the English season is better from the Indian perspective. With Tendulkar, Ganguly, Dravid and Laxman in their last series here, they will be highly ambitious to put on a show.'' Shastri also seemed content with the balance of the England touring Indian team and termed it would to be the 'toughest opponent' the host have faced this year.

''The team have the right mixture of youth and experience and will be a much better side than any England have faced in Test matches this year. With doubts about the fitness of their leading quick bowlers, England will have a tough series,'' he told Sky Sports.

A deep thinker and a shrewd strategist, Shastri, was of the opinion that there should be a right balance between the One-day and Test cricket as currently shorter version of the game outplays its longer counterpart.

''A proper balance between one-day and Test match cricket should be mantained. There is far too much one-day cricket being played.

I'd also like to see the way in which the international Test arena is shaped, changed to get Australia to play abroad during their home season.'' UNI XC BJR-SSC VV1211