India Face Out-of-Sorts England in Test Series

After the disappointment of the World Test Cricket Championship, India return to action with a  test series against England. Following the loss to New Zealand, India will want to return home with a series win over the English side, so are the opposition beatable?

The five-test series starts at Trent Bridge on August 4. It’s an important series for both countries with big fixtures and tournaments due in the future. England will want to build some confidence for the upcoming Ashes tour this winter. That’s a series which is already looking a very difficult task for the inconsistent England team.

They also have had problems with New Zealand this summer. The English team playing a two-test series against them and lost it 1-0. It’s clear that England have big problems with their batting line-up. That was definitely shown in the second innings of the second test when they were dismissed for just 122.

India’s bowlers probably can’t wait to start bowling against England’s fragile batting line-up. Rory Burns and Dom Sibley can sometimes be difficult to remove but get an early wicket and a collapse could well be on the cards. Take their number three for example, Zak Crawley.

England have been having problems with that position in the batting line-up for a long time now. Crawley scored 21 runs in four innings against New Zealand, 17 coming in one of them. Perhaps they might give yet another chance at test level to James Vince after his recent ODI century?

Joe Root failed to get a half-century in four innings against New Zealand. Olly Pope is out injured but his highest score against New Zealand was only 23. The English side does have some new players coming through. Dan Lawrence hit 81 not out in his first innings against the New Zealanders but then had two ducks. New wicketkeeper James Bracey is yet to get into double figures and has a test batting average of 2.66.

They will expect to have some returning players for the series against India. Ben Stokes played in the recent ODI series against Pakistan. His return will be vital for the England team If he can recapture the form shown in recent years. To see predictions on the series, pay a visit to SportyTrader.

When it comes to their bowling attack, India will be facing  some very familiar foes. Stuart Broad and James Anderson are still going strong, but both are close to the end of their playing careers. Facing the pair who know better than anyone how to use English conditions to their advantage isn’t going to be easy.

Not since 2007 have India won a test series in England. This looks to be one of their better opportunities to return home with the Pataudi Trophy. Having that World Championship match in Southampton will have them used to the conditions of the English summer. They take on an England side that hasn’t a clue what its best line-up is and with players struggling for form. It promises to be a fascinating five-test series.