England vs India 2018: 4th Test, Ageas Bowl – Match Preview

Aug 29, 2018 at 12:38 PM

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England vs India 2018: 4th Test, Ageas Bowl – Match Preview

India will lock horns with England at Rose Bowl, Southampton in the fourth Test match. The visitors had made a fine comeback in the third Test match at Trent Bridge after going down in the first two. Thus, the tourists will aim to continue the impetus whereas the hosts will look to bounce back. Sportzwiki brings you the Match Preview.

Meanwhile, India will be sweating over the fitness of their talismanic spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin. If Ashwin fails to gain his full fitness, it would not only be a loss in the bowling department but also it will weaken India’s lower order. However, Ravindra Jadeja can be like to like replacement.

England v India 2018, 4th Test match, Ageas Bowl, Match Preview
India will look to build on the impetus. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

India will aim to continue with the impetus.

One of the biggest positive for India in the previous Test match was their slip catching. KL Rahul was brilliant at second slip and hang on to everything that came his way.

One more positive for India was the return of form of Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara. Ajinkya Rahane looked in control and at his absolute best in the first innings where he scored a free-flowing 81.

It is pivotal for Indian batsmen to put their weight behind their skipper, as Virat Kohli can’t be the lone warrior every time.

Furthermore, India was boosted by the return of Jasprit Bumrah. The fast bowler was able to show what he brings to the table. Hardik Pandya also glittered like a star with the ball. Thus, Pandya will like to make sure that his performance at Trent Bridge was not a flash in the pan.

Can Alastair Cook return to form?

England India Alastair Cook
Alastair Cook. Getty Images

On the other hand, England was not up to the mark in the previous match. Their slip catching woes are getting manifold with every match.

Furthermore, their opening pair hasn’t delivered the goods. Therefore, they would want a better start from their openers especially from Alastair Cook who had scored an innings of 95 and 70, the last time he had played against India at this venue. Cook hasn’t been in the best of forms and would look to make amends.

Meanwhile, England will also be worried over the fitness of their linchpin batsman, Jonny Bairstow. The right-hander might only play as a batsman. Consequently, he will have to hand over the gloves to Jos Buttler.

There weren’t many positives for England in the last Test but if there was one- it was Jos Buttler’s century. The combative batsman is being able to bring his best in the red ball version. Thus, England has received a shot in the arm.

England’s playing combination.

In fact, there were doubts raised over the decision of Joe Root when he decided to put India into bat. Root gave more importance to India’s weak link- batting and didn’t take the decision as per the conditions. Moreover, Sam Curran was dropped even after performing well.

Thus, the 20-year old prodigy can be roped in place of Adil Rashid who hasn’t had a big role to play in the favorable seam bowling conditions. Furthermore, India are not used to facing a southpaw pacer in their net sessions and the angles that Curran can create will cause a problem, as it was evident in the opening Test match at Edgbaston.

Meanwhile, Moeen Ali has made a strong case for himself by scoring a double hundred and taking eight wickets for Worcestershire. Thus, the all-rounder will be in contention to play in the last XI.

James Vince is also added to the England squad. The Hampshire captain is in good form and will push for his place in the final XI of England.

Positives for India.

England v India 2018, Virat Kohli, Aegis Bowl, Southampton, Track Record
Virat Kohli leads the team off. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images).

Match Preview.

On the other hand, Indian openers were able to give a solid start in both the innings. Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul put together a partnership of 60 runs in both the innings. Hence they were able to put solid pillars on which the strong building of 329 was made.

It was imperative for India to get a good opening partnership and the openers were able to deliver the goods. Dhawan was able to impress with his technique as he erased the vertical bat shots from his armory and focussed his energy on hitting the ball with the horizontal bat. Ergo, the southpaw batsman was able to borne fruits.

Rishabh Pant had a dream debut as he galloped seven catches. It is never easy for a keeper to keep in the English conditions from the get-go where the ball is moving in all directions. However, Pant was able to do justice behind the stumps. The combative batsman also did fine with the bat. The southpaw batter was able to curb his natural game and scored 24 runs from 51 balls.

Meanwhile, Indian fast bowlers have continued to show the upward swing in their improvement graph. They were right on the money in Trent Bridge and it is nice to note the new crop of Indian pacers doing well. In fact, this is the most promising pace battery in the history of Indian cricket folklore.

How do you get Virat Kohli’s wicket? – The biggest question in front of England bowlers.

Virat Kohli Greg Chappell
Credit: Getty Images

Virat Kohli vs James Anderson has been a battle within a battle. Kohli has given respect to his biggest nemesis in the opposite camp. Subsequently, he has been able to keep England’s pack leader at bay. However, the butterfingers of England’s slip cordon has not been a friend to Jimmy.

The Indian skipper Virat Kohli has played a different XI in all the 38 Test matches he has led. However, after a good performance at Trent Bridge, Kohli has an opportunity to play the same playing XI unless he is forced to alter it because of some injury issues.

Match Preview.

Date and Time: 30 August 2018, 3:30 PM IST.

Venue: Ageas Bowl, Southampton.

Weather Conditions: The temperature is going to stay below 20 degree Celsius. There would be partial clouds but they are unlikely to produce rain on the opening day of the Test match.

Pitch Conditions: The Rose Bowl is a batsmen paradise as England was able to post 569 the last time around when they met India in 2014. Thus, it is going to be another batting friendly conditions. However, the bowlers have stayed on top in the ongoing series. Therefore, it is going be a good contest between bat and ball.

Form Guide (Results of last five Test matches)

England: LDLWWL

India: LWLLW

India’s Predicted Playing XI: Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah.

England’s Predicted Playing XI: Alastair Cook, Keaton Jennings, Joe Root (c), Ollie Pope, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Chris Woakes, Sam Curran, Stuart Broad, James Anderson.

Stats:

Ishant Sharma has scalped 249 wickets thus far. Consequently, he is one wicket away from taking his 250 Test wickets.

Virat Kohli has scored 5994 runs so far in his career of 69 Test matches. Thus, the Indian skipper is six runs shy from the 6000-run mark.

James Anderson has taken 557 wickets in the red ball version. Therefore, England’s pack leader is just seven wickets away from leapfrogging Glenn McGrath.

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