England and India will square off at the home of cricket, Lord’s for the second Test match of the five-match Test series. Sportzwiki brings the detailed Match Preview.
The first Test match at Edgbaston swung like a pendulum with both teams gaining the advantage at some point in the game. However, it was England who were able to come on top by 31 runs, as they won the crucial moments of the game.
Therefore, the hosts were able to hold on to their nerves to draw first blood against India to go 1-0 up in the series.
India will like to counter punch.
Subsequently, the visitors will look to bounce back after going down in the first Test match. In fact, there are some areas which would get addressed in the team meeting.
Meanwhile, Virat Kohli fought a lone battle in the opening match. Thus, it was more England’s bowling vs Virat Kohli’s batting rather than England vs India.
Consequently, the tourist’s batsmen must put their weight behind their skipper. There were some loose shots, and Indian batsmen need to add more application to their approach.
What would be the changes in the Indian team?
So, if there is one chink in India’s armour, it is the support to Virat Kohli in the batting line-up. In fact, there is no doubt that Indian batsmen must have faced some difficult questions from the team management, as they did from the England bowlers in the first Test.
Furthermore, they have all the experience under their belt, and they are expected to deliver a better performance.
Here is the Match Preview of England vs India 2018, 2nd Test at Lord’s.
Indian team cannot afford to put all the onus on the shoulders of Virat Kohli. The India skipper was brilliant in the first Test. However, it would not be fair to expect him to deliver every time. In fact, this has been the case in the recent past, as Kohli was the lone warrior on the South African tour as well.
Meanwhile, there were some positives for the Indian team. First Test match at Birmingham was the seventh consecutive time when the Indian team had scalped all the twenty wickets in an away Test. Thus, their performance must have given the team a shot in the arm.
Furthermore, Ravichandran Ashwin was immaculate with his variations. Ashwin was able to bamboozle the England batsmen, and there is no denying the fact that he is going to be pivotal for India’s success. It is one of the hottest summers in England and therefore, Ashwin can be licking his lips. Thus, India might also be tempted to play Kuldeep Yadav who could be an X-factor.
Meanwhile, it is going to be interesting to note what changes that the India think-tank brings to the table. Cheteshwar Pujara might make his way back to the last XI, as he was a surprising drop in the first Test.
However, Virat Kohli had led in 36 Test matches and surprisingly the India captain had played a different XI in all the games he had led.
Give confidence to your players.
Subsequently, the players haven’t been given the surety of their place in the last XI, which has impacted their performance. A player performs at his best when he knows that his place in the side is 100%. However, it hasn’t been the case. Thus, it has led to pressure which could have been avoided.
Furthermore, the team must understand that they should not make a lot of changes for the second Test match. It should give the players a chance to rectify their mistakes done in the first Test. The team meeting should be like, “Okay boys, we are giving you another shot, go out there and show us that you learn from your mistakes.”
However, it could be a gamble if some new faces will get included in the playing XI. They are not acclimatized to the conditions as much and could face a challenge.
There is no looking behind once you have taken your decisions in any kind of sport. You take them and try your best to execute them to perfection. Thus, there is no point looking at hindsight thinking we could have done this or done that. Virat Kohli has always been brave with his selections policies, and some surprises can be expected.
Meanwhile, Lord’s brings sweet memories, as India was able to triumph at the historic venue on the previous tour. Thus, they would like to repeat their performance at the Mecca of Cricket.
Sportzwiki brings you the Match Preview.
On the other hand, England were able to come up roses after an intriguing contest in the first Test match. It was a perfect exhibition of Test cricket with the game at his best.
The 20-year old Sam Curran was the biggest positive for the hosts. 87 runs and five wickets in the match sums up his contribution in the game that went down to the wire. Therefore, it is a perfect opportunity for the young lad to play with and against one of the best in the business. In fact, he was himself the perfect showstopper of the first Test.
Some unanswered questions are hanging in the England dressing room.
Meanwhile, England will have to fill in the big shoes of Ben Stokes. The talismanic all-rounder was able to show what he brought to the table when he ran through the Indian lower order in the second innings. Stokes had a spring in his stride and his attitude to give 120% to his team did the job for England. Therefore, Chris Woakes who will most likely take Stokes place will have his work cut out.
Meanwhile, England will also like to address their slip catches woes, as will their counterparts India. Both the teams were poor in the slip cordon and would like to come up with a better performance.
Another exciting contest could be on the cards between England vs India 2018.
Furthermore, England’s batting was not able to impress. Joe Root needs to break up with the love affair of scoring fifties for his side. There is a lesson for England skipper to take from Virat Kohli who has converted 39 fifties into 22 hundred.
Thus, his conversion rate is next to great Sir Don Bradman. Subsequently, Root will like to make a substantial score especially after he goes past the 50-run mark.
Alastair Cook’s form will be a cause for concern for England’s think tank. In fact, Cook’s heartbeat has doubled whenever he sees Ravichandran Ashwin on the bowling crease. Yes, Cook is Ashwin’s bunny, as the off-spinner had dismissed him on nine occasions.
Therefore, the experienced opener needs to crack the code to counter Ashwin. However, the veteran southpaw can definitely come on top against his biggest nemesis in the Indian bowling line-up. Moreover, England will want more from their middle order.
England vs India 2018, Match Preview.
Date and Time: 9th August 2018, 3:30 pm IST.
Venue: Lords, London.
Weather Conditions: The temperature is going to stay in the mid-twenties throughout the match. However, it is going to be partly cloudy on an opening day.
Pitch Conditions: It was a perfect battle between bat and ball in the first Test match. In fact, it is expected to remain the same in the second. Lord’s pitch will aid the spinners, and thus India might play both Ashwin and Kuldeep Yadav.
England Predicted XI: Alastair Cook, Keaton Jennings, Joe Root(c), Ollie Pope, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Chris Woakes, Jos Buttler, Adil Rashid, Sam Curran, Stuart Broad, James Anderson.
India’s Predicted XI: Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Cheteswar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravi Ashwin, Mohammad Shami, Ishant Sharma, Kuldeep Yadav.
Form Guide:
Last Five Test matches:
England: WWLLD
India: LWLLW.
Stats:
Ajinkya Rahane is 90 runs away from reaching the 3000-run mark.
Murali Vijay has scored 3933 runs thus far. Therefore, the Indian opener is 67 runs shy of the 4000-run mark.
Ishant Sharma has scalped 244 wickets. Thus, the lanky fast bowler is six wickets away from reaching 250 wickets.
James Anderson has taken 544 scalps. Consequently, the swing master is six wickets short of reaching 550 wickets. He will become the second fast bowler after Glenn McGrath to achieve the feat.
