England batsman Usman Afzaal insists he will not tone down the aggressive batting style that has so far seen him struggle in the Test arena.

Afzaal has no doubts that he can do well on the good batting wickets of India - on what Nasser Hussain has already called 'the toughest tour' for his England side.

Afzaal told BBC Sport Online: "I don't think people will say: 'Bat like this or don't bat like this.'

"We have been selected to bat the way we bat so consequently I will play the way I like to play."

The stylish Nottinghamshire batsman played in three home Tests against Australia in the summer with limited sucess, his best knock a 54 in the Oval Test full of sparkling shots and exquisite timing.

But then he got himself out playing a bad pull shot to a shortish ball from Glenn McGrath, and was caught at long leg.

"I was out and I was annoyed by that," he continued.

"But if that ball was bowled again I would still play that shot again.

"At the end of the day you re-assess what's happened, but I sat down afterwards and thought I would definitely play that shot again."

In reality, Afzaal may need to give an exceptional account of himself in England's warm-up cricket prior to the first Test in Mohali on 3 December to force his way into the starting eleven.

England's middle order almost picks itself with Mark Ramprakash, Mark Butcher and Graham Thorpe - plus Hussain - likely to fill the spots between three and six in England's batting order.

But on past tours to India, illness and early injuries have forced the selectors' hand and Afzaal could well have a major role to play in the series.