The first Test was even, to the extent that despite no Indian batsmen apart from Virat Kohli quite making a mark, England’s victory margin was only 31 runs. The second Test was one-sided, England winning by an innings and 159 runs, as even Kohli failed. But the Indians have bounced back since, with a comprehensive 203-run win in the third Test.
That has left the three-Test series finely poised at 2-1 in England’s favour, with Southampton set to host what could well be called the Moving Test in the series – England win, the deal is sealed; India win, the fifth Test assumes proportions of a cracker. Looking at the series – and recent Test cricket in general – so far, a draw can be ruled out unless the weather intervenes, and there are no such fears.
From the Indian point of view, the lead-up to the Test has been dominated by talk of how India might, possibly, field an unchanged XI for the first time since Kohli took charge. He has led India in 38 Tests and not once have the team walked out with the same 11 men as in the previous Test.
But with the third Test truly a team effort – with ball, bat and on the field – there is a possibility of it happening, bar an injury.
Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul opened the innings and added exactly 60 both times, not bad in these low-scoring games. At No.3, Cheteshwar Pujara scored 72 over four hours in the second innings. At No.4 is Kohli, who scored 97 and 103 and now has 440 runs in the series. Ajinkya Rahane scored 81 in the first innings. Rishabh Pant, on debut, didn’t score a lot of runs but acquitted himself well enough behind the stumps, and Hardik Pandya scored a run-a-ball 52 in the second innings.
On to the bowlers, and while Pandya picked up five wickets in the first England innings, Jasprit Bumrah did likewise in the second. Ishant Sharma was incisive too, and while Mohammed Shami and Ravichandran Ashwin didn’t get too many wickets, dropping either of them looks unlikely.
While things look rather set in the visitors’ camp, there are a doubt or two on the other side, mostly to do with fitness issues.
Jonny Bairstow busted a finger during the third Test, and Jos Buttler had to replace him behind the stumps. Bairstow wants to play the fourth Test, and wants to keep wickets as well, but whether he is ready for the job and whether England want to risk an aggravation to the injury remains to be seen.
Buttler slots in as wicket-keeper straightaway if Bairstow can’t keep. If he can’t bat either, Moeen Ali has a chance to come in to the XI, as does James Vince, who has been brought back.
Ben Stokes, meanwhile, didn’t bowl in Durham T20 Blast quarter-final against Sussex. He should be able to bat and bowl at the Ageas Bowl, but there is a small question mark on the fitness of Chris Woakes too. On Tuesday, Woakes missed England’s training session because of a tightness in his right quad. If fit, he should be in the playing XI. If not, Sam Curran could well return.
Fitness issues aside, concerns remain about England’s opening pair, with Alastair Cook not in great form – 13, 0, 21, 29 and 17 in the series so far – and Keaton Jennings also struggling, his 42 in the first innings of the first Test still his best effort. No changes look likely there, but the Indian bowlers will back themselves to make early inroads, that’s for sure.
England are ahead, but India are cock-a-hoop after the big win at Trent Bridge, and with all their cogs in the wheel coming together nicely, they should push England hard in Southampton.
