(Info4now)- If Australia were on the back foot in Australia and India utilized it best, WTC Final was a fifty-fifty contest. It was between your ability vs others’ weakness. Every time you contest in a final, you have to be sure about your strength. Back to India vs England 1st Test, it’s not like the WTC Final. Though India have marked nothing in England, since Rahul Dravid era, they should eye something new. The reason behind it is again the weakness of the opposition. No settled opening for England and the middle order is also out of form. Top class Ben Stokes will be out of the calculation and Root has to pull his socks up to search for a replacement.
India vs England 1st Test: Preview
The absence of Subhman Gill will open a door for K. L. Rahul and the latter is a fantastic player against pace. To spend a little bit of time, at the start, against the movement is something he’ll target at. Even though Rohit Sharma has a problem against swinging deliveries, India must continue to offer him the opening slot. He is a giant technician of cricket ball and to handle the red one on green track should appear easier in course of time. Cheteshwar Pujara has been criticized for being over-defensive on so many occasions. Calculated risk can save his number 3 spot.
Virat has a fantastic memory of his own performance in 2018 tour of England. But in recent times, his batting infertility is a problem in the middle order. If someone needs to play a longer innings, Kohli should take that responsibility. Even being a captain, he needs to concentrate on individual performance. Every time Ajinkya Rahane scores, it stabilizes the innings total. Anything rhythmic in cricket will draw people’s attention—either it is failure or it is success. You have to be fairly consistent. So Rahane’s form might be the deciding factor for Team India in England vs India, 1st Test.
For number six and seven, if Rishabh Pant’s position is secure, India will miss Hardik Pandya. As Shardul Thakur can bat, he should be promoted to No 7 spot even before Ravindra Jadeja. So Ravi Ashwin will be the only slower for Team India. He is a champion and his current overseas performance will motivate every new generation spinner. Three genuine pace bowlers Ishant Sharma, Md. Shami and Bumrah will probably make the playing XI. If Md. Siraj is looking for a break in the final list, either Ishant Sharma or Bumrah has to step down.
An Unsettled English Batting
Unlike other previous contests at home, England are extremely on the back foot with their loose opening and off-form middle order. I don’t know who are going to open for England—whether the Sibley-Burns duo or anyone else. England camp has to decide about these two and give chance to play at least three tests. In the middle, Joe Root and Johnny Bairstow have to be very consistent. Down the order Jos Buttler and Sam Curran might have to be in action a little bit earlier. There is a real chance of middle order collapse.
Jack Leech must be included as the only spinner, as India have the maximum number of right hand batsmen. James Anderson and Stuart Broad will make the playing XI as routine test players. Along with these two experienced campaigner either Wood or Robinson will continue to hit the deck hard. England have no problem of fifth bowling option, Sam Curran being very consistent for that.
Conclusion
To Conclude, it’s going to be a very tough series for England. India will eye to exploit visible loopholes of the host. At Trent Bridge the ball will definitely move. England have to adapt with the condition immediately, if it gets a bit drier.