Udal is set for another chance after three difficult Tests in Pakistan

The tourists need a win to level the series and Mumbai (Bombay) surface is likely to be the most spin-friendly.

Udal, who will be 37 on day one of the Test, took only three wickets in his first three Tests in Pakistan.

"We think it is a two-spinner pitch but we will look at it, then look at the number eight position," Fletcher said.

The prospect of Udal batting as high as eight is a concern for Fletcher, who said: "We have always maintained we need a balanced side.

"Liam Plunkett has come in to do a job, he is a very inexperienced player and we are asking a lot of him at the moment, especially because he is playing in conditions he is not used to."

Fletcher is still lamenting the loss of Ashley Giles, who contributed four fifties at an average of 20.72 in addition to his 140 wickets from 52 Tests.

"Ashley has always offered us the balance which is required of a Test side," he insisted.

We need to score over 400 runs in the first innings but it's just a case of doing the right things to get them Kevin Pietersen

There was praise for Monty Panesar, who has impressed with some sharply turning deliveries, but has confirmed himself to be a number 11 batsman.

"Monty has shown us he has a good action and hopefully he will get a better chance in Mumbai," said Fletcher, who played down reports Steve Harmison had picked up an injury during the second Test.

An extra batsman was ruled out because of the workload it would place on the three seamers and left-arm slow bowler Ian Blackwell appeared out of his depth in the first Test.

India's Anil Kumble is expected to play a key role again but batsman Paul Collingwood said England must not allow the spinner to take a psychological advantage over them.

"Any bowler, especially a world-class one, can get into your head if you let him, so you mustn't let him," he told BBC Sport.

More: Paul Collingwood column

"A lot comes down to the wicket that you're playing on. The one in Mohali was perfectly suited to Kumble because of the bounce and turn." �

"We communicate all the time as a team on how to play him and where to score from him and we will keep doing that."

Team-mate Kevin Pietersen insisted the inexperienced tourists could recover from defeat in Mohali.

"The fourth afternoon in the last Test didn't go according to plan but we're up for the challenge and it's an opportunity for everybody involved," he said.

"We need to score over 400 runs in the first innings but it's just a case of doing the right things to get them."