India vs England, 4th Test: Weather & pitch report
What's the story
The fourth Test of the five-match series between India and England will be played at Old Trafford in Manchester, starting on July 23. It is a must-win game for the visitors as England own a 2-1 lead. Notably, India are chasing history as they are yet to win a Test match in Manchester. On this note, let's look at the pitch and weather report for the game.
Pitch dynamics
A look at the pitch report
Traditionally, the pitch at Old Trafford has offered a fair contest between batters and bowlers. This trend is expected to continue in the upcoming match. Batters can expect consistent bounce on the wicket during the first three days. The team batting first would look to post a score of at least 340-350 runs, considering that the average first innings score here is 331 runs. As per Cricbuzz, teams batting first have won 32 of the 86 Tests here (17 defeats).
Bowling strategies
What to expect from the bowlers?
Fast bowlers can expect some assistance from the pitch during the first three days, provided they hit their lines and lengths. However, as the match progresses, the wicket is likely to deteriorate and spinners could come into play. This could prompt India to stick with a combination of two spinners and at least three fast bowlers for this match.
Information
Will rain impact the game?
The weather forecast indicates a slight chance of rain on all five days of the match. The maximum temperature is expected to be around 19°C while the minimum temperature could go down to 13°C during this period.
Team adjustments
England have named their XI
England have announced their Playing XI for the game. The team sees the return of spinner Liam Dawson, who has replaced the injured Shoaib Bashir. That is the only change in England's XI from the third Test. England's Playing XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (wicket-keeper), Liam Dawson, Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, and Jofra Archer.
India XI
Will Anshul Kamboj debut for India?
India are likely to make several changes due to fitness issues. Rishabh Pant is likely to play as a pure batter due to fitness concerns with Dhruv Jurel keeping the wickets. Uncapped pacer Anshul Kamboj can replace the injured Akash Deep in the XI. India's Probable XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan/Karun Nair, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Anshul Kamboj, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.
DYK
Have India ever won a Test at Old Trafford?
Between 1936 and 2014, India have played nine Tests at Old Trafford. They lost four of those games, with five Tests ending in draws (1936, 1946, 1971, 1982, and 1990). India's defeats at Old Trafford came in 1952, 1959, 1974, and 2014. Notably, India haven't played a Test in Manchester since their 2014 tour. Notably, Ravindra Jadeja is the only player in the current Indian squad who featured in the 2014 Manchester match.
Stats
England's Test record at Old Trafford since 2000
England have played a total of 20 Test matches at Old Trafford since 2000 and have won 14 of them. The tally includes four draws and a couple of defeats. Pakistan (2001) and Australia (2019) are the only teams to defeat England in Manchester in this century. The Brits would be raring to further enhance their record at the venue.