McCullum: We'll be brave in India

BRENDON McCullum insists England are ready to be "really brave" with their team selection for the first Test against India, leaning into one of the biggest challenges in cricket.

- RORY DOLLARD

England's red-ball team are back in action for the first time in almost six months on Thursday, beginning a five-match tour in Hyderabad.

India have been dominant on home soil over the past decade and have lost only three matches out of 46 since they last lost a series, to Sir Alastair Cook's England in 2012.

But McCullum refuses to be pessimistic and is instead piecing together an XI that can spring a surprise. On a pitch that is expected to offer plenty of turn, England must decide how bold to be with a callow spin unit featuring the established Jack Leach and rookies Rehan Ahmed, Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir.

"What balance we go for, we'll work out in the coming days, but the thing we need to be is really brave with whatever we decide," he said.