The five-match Test series between England and India has come to a major milestone as both teams are all set for the fourth Test at Old Trafford in Manchester starting Wednesday, July 23. England are currently leading the series 2-1 after a good 22-run win at Lord’s and England will be looking to seal the series by winning this match. India, on the other hand, will be eager to bounce back and reach the decider at the Oval.
Match Details: ENG vs IND
- Match: England vs India, 4th Test
- Date: Wednesday, July 23 – Sunday, July 27
- Time: 3:30 pm IST & 10:00 am GMT
- Venue: Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester
Recent Updates and Team News
India’s preparations for this Test have not been great at all. Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh and Akash Deep are all unavailable for this match due to injuries. In his place, Anshul Kamboj has been included in the squad and is all set to make his Test match debut. The batting order looks the same, so the focus is now on bowling well. Shardul Thakur could come in to provide balance with both bat and ball, while Kamboj or Prasidh Krishna are likely to be selected alongside Bumrah and Siraj.
England have named a very good team and have made just one change – Shoaib Bashir has not been included in the team, Liam Dawson has been included in the playing XI in his place. This is a strong team with depth in batting and a strong fast bowling attack led by Jofra Archer and Chris Woakes.
Pitch and Weather Report
The Old Trafford pitch has so far proved to be good for batting first. The pitch usually offers good bounce and swing initially, but as the match progresses, it slows down and the bounce reduces – making fourth innings chases a bit more difficult.
The average fourth innings score at this ground is just 160, so winning the toss could be crucial. As for the weather, light rain is expected on all five days, which may interrupt play occasionally. The temperature will hover around 20-21°C.
India’s Probable XI:
Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (captain), Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Anshul Kamboj, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
England’s Final XI:
Zac Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Liam Dawson, Chris Woakes, Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse
Dream11 Teams & Fantasy Top Picks: India vs England
Small Leauge
Grand Leauge
Wicketkeeper:
Rishabh Pant: Reliable performer with the bat and has the potential to score quick runs if he gets into form.
Jamie Smith: Strong in wicketkeeping and can score useful runs in the middle order.
Batsmen:
Shubman Gill: Has shown composure in tough conditions and is now leading the team.
Joe Root: Has always been a top fantasy pick with his consistency and occasional bowling
Ben Duckett: In good rhythm and a left-handed batsman who can tackle spin.
All-rounders:
Ben Stokes: Match-winner at Lord’s and in great form.
Ravindra Jadeja: Scores points in all three departments and is a must.
Bowlers:
Jasprit Bumrah (Vice-Captain): The most important player for India in any situation.
Jofra Archer: Fit and aggressive again, he is dangerous on this surface.
Liam Dawson: Can do better with both bat and ball.
Dream11 Fantasy Team Suggestion (Small League)
- Captain: Rishabh Pant
- Vice-Captain: Jasprit Bumrah
- Batsmen: Joe Root, Shubman Gill, Ben Duckett, KL Rahul
- Wicketkeeper: Rishabh Pant, Jamie Smith
- All-rounders: Ben Stokes, Ravindra Jadeja
- Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Jofra Archer, Liam Dawson
Who has the edge?
India have never won a Test match in the 9 matches they have played at Old Trafford, which tilts the balance in England’s favour. Also, the visitors are struggling with injuries, especially in their bowling department. England, who are playing at home and have also registered a very good win in the last Test, will start as slight favourites.
Still, if India’s top order hits form and Bumrah bowls well, they have the firepower to give England a tough fight. If the weather cooperates, this could be another close contest.
Match Winner
England Will Win The Match
