ENG v IND: 5 things to look forward to in the upcoming Test series

The India-England rivalry has always been a treat for the beholders, more so when the cricketing action is taking place in the lush green backdrop of the latter country. This time around, in 2018, the upcoming 5-match Test series will mark the culmination of a fiercely competed couple of months-long series. The question is, who’ll have the last laugh?

As of now, the India Tour of England is poised delicately with India having bagged the T20I series and England having subsequently sealed the 5 ODI stint. Given India’s forgettable outings in the longest format of the game in English conditions in the past decade or so, the onus is on Virat Kohli‘s men to grab the elusive title. Amidst all this excitement, there are plenty of things to watch out for in the next one month.

1. Mohammad Shami’s comeback

India’s premier pacer, Mohammad Shami is all set to make a comeback into the international cricketing foray after what can be called a short sabbatical. His last appearance for his national side was earlier this year, against South Africa at Johannesburg where his scintillating 5-wicket haul in the second innings of the test match ensured that India won the third test of the series which they lost 2-1.

Since then, Shami has had a rough year owing to disputes with his wife coupled with a road accident in March 2018 that resulted in a head injury. Now that he’s been drafted into the Indian test squad for the upcoming games against England, the feisty pacer must be raring to go and this is his chance to prove his mettle. On India’s part, the team is in dire need of the services of a quality pacer like Shami.

The England pitches haven’t exactly aided the pacers this time and the fact that the major chunk of wickets scalped can be credited to the efforts of the likes of Adil Rashid, Moeen Ali and Kuldeep Yadav, is indicative of the lack of firepower in the pace department. Shami, who has 5 dismissals to his name on England soil from the 3 matches of the 2014 Pataudi Trophy that he played, will be looking to make an impressive comeback and help India’s cause.

2. Hardik Pandya’s ultimate test

In what can only be termed as a ‘baptism by fire’, Hardik Pandya will be playing his first test match on English soil on August 1, if he’s included in the Playing XI for the first test. The lanky all-rounder has been generally impressive in the ongoing tour and ended the T20I series as the leading wicket taker. Combining the limited overs matches, the 24-year old has bagged 7 dismissals.

However, as experts would say, Tests and T20Is are entirely different ball-games. The pressure is gargantuan for Pandya, who is expected to contribute significantly with both the bat and the ball. His knock worth 93 runs against the Proteas at Cape Town this year, though in a losing cause, gave rise to a shining ray of hope. If he’s able to replicate that sort of a performance in England against the likes of James Anderson and Stuart Broad, India will have one headache less.

Although Pandya’s been effective in picking up crucial wickets at the right junctures in the 20-overs format, to bowl consistently to the current Test batting stalwarts like Joe Root and Alastair Cook with unwavering persistence and extract a wicket out of nowhere is something Pandya will have to do repeatedly if he’s to seal his spot in the national test side as a dependable all-rounder.

3. A possible debut of Shardul Thakur

Only four ODIs and seven T20Is old, young Shardul Thakur of the Indian Premier League (IPL) fame has made a spot for himself already in the India test squad. At the outset, it’s unlikely for him to make a debut in the first two games with the likes of Hardik Pandya, Ishant Sharma and Mohammad Shami in the squad. However, given the long series that’d ahead of the Indian team, he might just find a place in the Playing XI in the later games.

If indeed he does get a shot at it, Thakur’s job will be anything but easy and he’ll need plenty of backing from his captain even if he isn’t as successful as he’d like to be in the first few outings. To his advantage, the young man has had the opportunity to bowl to some of the best batsmen in the world in the IPL. The ultimate challenge for him will be to convert that experience to his strength on a foreign soil and use his quality pace to outfox the English batsmen.

4. Joe Root vs Indian bowlers

It’s no secret that Joe Root is one of the bests in the Test format of the modern-day game. Add to that the unstoppable form that he’s been in for the last one year or so and we have one of the most exciting prospects of India versus England test series. Root’s batting is sure to be one of the major attractions of the upcoming matches and England’s chances of winning the series or otherwise will largely pivot around his performances.

As the English skipper, Root’s responsibility will be ten-fold as compared to just another batsman. Not only will he have to keep his lads motivated to claim a convincing series victory, but he’ll also have to contribute heftily with the bat. England is already in a sort of a pickle when it comes to their opening pair, considering Keaton Jennings is still fairly fresh a recruit after being brought in as a replacement for Mark Stoneman.

Coming to Root’s personal figures, in the last two years, he’s amassed 1366 runs in 28 innings. In 2018 alone, the 27-year old has accrued 400 runs in 9 innings at a commendable average of 50. With five 50+ scores in the year already, Root is the biggest threat to the Indian bowling and if he gets going, the spectators will surely be in for a treat.

5. James Anderson vs Indian top order

540 test wickets. Let that sink in a little. That’s the figure James Anderson has in his repertoire when it comes to testing bowling. One of the best pacers the world has ever seen, Anderson resembles fine wine that only gets better with age. It’ll be an absolute cracker of a contest between the 35-year old speedster and the Indian batsmen.

Although there have been clouds of doubt looming over Anderson’s fitness, what with his right shoulder being in a tricky spot owing to years of toil, he made his comeback for Lancashire’s 2nd XI a week back and how! In the preparatory game, he scalped 2 wickets for 32 runs in 14 overs. If he manages to continue with this form going into the test series, England will be the closest they can be to being an indomitable force.

Anderson has previously troubled the Indian batsmen to no end with his fiery out-swingers and bounce-laden deliveries. Add to that the Indian top order’s propensity for flashing the willow unnecessarily outside the off-stump, it’ll be interesting to see how the contest between the two forces shapes up from August 1 onward!