The fourth Test between India and England ended in a draw. However, there was more to the game than the result. India amassed 358 runs in the first innings before getting bundled out. Ben Stokes was the pick of the bowlers for England and took five wickets.
The top three of the English batting unit, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, and Ollie Pope, scored a half-century each. Joe Root and Stokes made a century each. England posted a massive total of 669 runs. India lost first two wickets for a duck and then KL Rahul (90) and Shubman Gill added 188 runs for the third wicket. Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja scored a century each and helped the team draw the game.
The third Test of the series is scheduled to be played at the Kennington Oval in London. India will make one expected change in the playing 11 for the upcoming Test as Rishabh Pant has been ruled out of the series. He has been replaced by Narayan Jagadeesan in the squad; however, Dhruv Jurel might replace Pant in the playing 11.
How Will India and England’s playing 11 look in the 5th Test?
The English pace trio of Chris Woakes, Jofra Archer, and Brydon Carse bowled a total of 46, 49.1, and 38 overs, respectively. Stokes bowled 24 overs in the first innings and just 11 overs in the second innings. He had to retire hurt during England’s innings due to a hamstring issue and struggled with a shoulder niggle in the third innings.
On his chances of playing the fourth Test, Stokes said, “Hopefully, it settles down and we’ll be good as gold for the last game. I don’t want to eat my words, but the likelihood that I won’t play is very unlikely.”
In all likelihood, Stokes will be a part of the playing 11. However, there might be a few changes in England’s bowling lineup. Liam Dawson, who made a comeback in the last game, is likely to retain his place. However, one among Woakes, Archer, and Carse might sit out to manage the workload. Woakes and Carse have played all four matches so far and hence, one of them might be given a rest.
England has already named the squad for the fifth Test and have added Jamie Overton to the team. Overton’s last and only Test appearance came against New Zealand three years ago. Overton, Gus Atkinson, and Josh Tongue are the three pacers in the squad.
Overton played for Surrey in the County Championship last week and bowled 14 overs in the match. Atkinson represented Surrey 2nd XI against Somerset 2nd XI last week and proved his match fitness. He bowled a total of 30 overs in the game and picked three wickets. Tongue played the first two matches in the series and took a total of 11 wickets at an average of 33.63.
England’s predicted playing 11 – Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes(c), Jamie Smith(w), Liam Dawson, Josh Tongue, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer
The one change that India is likely to bring in Jurel in place of Pant in the playing 11. A few more changes can happen in the playing 11. Obviously, the most important question from India’s perspective is whether Jasprit Bumrah can play this game? He bowled 33 overs in the match and took two wickets at an economy of 3.40. He was supposed to play three Test matches on this tour and has featured in those. Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir clarified that all Indian pacers are fully fit; however, the decision on Bumrah is pending.
“All the fast bowlers are fit. There are no injury concerns. No decision has been made on whether Jasprit Bumrah will play or not. Ultimately, whoever plays, they will try and do the job for the country,” Gambhir said during the press conference after fourth Test.
Shardul Thakur, who was picked in the playing 11 to replace injured Nitish Kumar Reddy had a mixed outing. He scored an 44 runs in the first innings, but failed to pick a wicket. India can look to finally bring Kuldeep Yadav in the playing 11 in this upcoming game. Akash Deep can also find a place in the playing 11 if he fits.
India’s predicted playing 11 – Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill(c), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Anshul Kamboj/Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah/Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj
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