HYDERABAD: Speedster Mark Wood on Tuesday said England would deploy their attacking style of cricket in the upcoming fivematch Test series, as India`s coach Rahul Dravid said he was confident his team was ready.

Dravid warned the visitors faced a `tough series` and conditions would be a `challenge`.

The Three Lions open the series in Hyderabad on Thursday with their `Bazball` all-action style set to face its biggest challenge on pitches expected to assistthe spinners.

`I don`t think we will be defensive,` Wood said. `I think we`ll stilllook to take the game on.

England were the last team to beat India on home turf when Alastair Cook`s team won a fourmatch series 2-1 in 2012.

`We have to soak up that pressure and create a bit of a theatre or drama on the field and then, when it`s time, attack again,` 34-year-old Durham fast bowler Wood said.

England coach and former New ZealandcaptainBrendonMcCullum and skipper Ben Stokes have devised an attacking brand of play dubbed `Bazball`, in reference to McCullum`s nickname.

`We know the challenges here.India very rarely loses at home,` he added.

`I think it`s almost like a bit of a free hit for us -where we can come in here and give it a good go, and try something different.` `Ready But Dravid said he remains confident of his team`s ability to counter England`s all-action approach.

`They`ve played really well, Dravid said. `It`s certainly been exciting to watch them play and they`ve had success playing like that.

The batting great said that England faced no easy ride.

`We know it`s going to be a chal-lenge for them in these conditions as well. These are conditions that we know very well,` he said.

`We`ve got a lot of experience in our attack. As a coach, I`m looking forward to how our boys respond, because I know that we`ll be put under pressure and I`m really hopeful that we respond positively.

Dravid praised England and said he expects a `tough series and a good series`.

India`s coach confirmed KL Rahul will not be the wicket-keeper, with the gloves going between KS Bharat and uncapped Dhruv Jurel.

The hosts have suffered a blowafter star batsman Virat Kohli pulled out of the opening two matches due to personal reasons, but Wood said the host`s line-up still includes a raft of `quality players`.

While England received criticism from some quarters for training in Abu Dhabi and not India, Wood rubbished fears of being `undercooked`.

`I think we`ve prepped really well`, he said. `It was also good to switch off there as well. We had a good team bonding session. So, we`ve come here fresh, mentally and physically, and ready to go.

-AFP