England vs India 2018, 3rd Test, Trent Bridge - 5 Players to Watch Out for

After a couple of disastrous results, the No 1 Test team in the world, India will look to stage an unlikely comeback in the 3rd Test of the five-match series against England.

The India team have been pretty weak in their approach, and none of the batsmen barring Virat Kohli in the opening match had performed. A whitewash might well be on the cards and India have to start applying themselves to harbour any hopes of winning the next Test, which gets underway on August 18th at Trent Bridge.

On the other hand, England will be high on confidence and will look to seal the series in Nottingham. Given the way they have performed in the series so far, a win for England seems the likely result.

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However, one can’t rule out a top team like India. Yes, they have been disappointing so far. But there are some exceptional players, and they need to apply themselves better. These are the same players who have performed quite admirably in the past. Hence they must believe that India can still win the series.

Now with the match set to begin in around 24 hours time, let us have a look at five players who might make a difference in the 3^rd Test at Trent Bridge.

Virat Kohli

There is no doubt about the fact that the India skipper will be the most critical player for the visitors in the 3^rd Test. He had looked the only visiting batsman with a touch of class.

Virat Kohli had got edges and reprives, but he had done the hard yard well and will look to score some runs in the match starting on Saturday.

Kohli was quite exceptional during his knock of 149 in the opening Test at Edgbaston. He followed it up with another good half-century which almost won India the match. However, his dismissal changed the course of the game, as England completed a 31-run victory.

Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah will be playing his first match of the series. Bumrah had been out of international action since the beginning of the English summer.

The pacer just played a solitary T20I against Ireland, as he was recuperating from an injury. Now, Bumrah will be available for the selection for the third Test, and it would be nothing less than a boost for team India.

Jasprit Bumrah made his Test debut against South Africa in the series early this year. So far, he has played just three games in whites.

If he makes it into the playing XI, Bumrah will walk at the expense of Kuldeep Yadav. If Kohli wants to play two spinners then Ishant or Shami might also face the axe.

Joe Root

The English skipper is one of the modern greats. Joe Root’s record is quite impressive in Test cricket, and his class merely is above most of his peers. However, Root will look to improve in one department which is converting his fifties into big hundreds.

His conversion rate is quite poor for a top-class batsman like him. It is something pretty unusual for a batsman like Root to get relaxed after scoring a half-century. We also saw in the opening Test, Root running himself out after making 80.

Joe Root makes batting look pretty easy, and is a very soothing player to watch. The England captain will look to convert if he gets a start in the 3^rd Test. His captaincy and batting will be very important for England and their chances to win the series with two matches to spare.

James Anderson

Even if the conditions are not favourable for the bowlers, James Anderson will be England’s most important bowler without a doubt.

India got troubled by the veteran speedster. In Lord’s, James was sensational and blew away the India batting line-up. His persistent lime and length and prodigious swing had been India’s nemesis. The swing king will look to add some more to his kitty in the 3^rd Test.

However, James Anderson is the leading wicket-taker for England in Tests. His record speaks volume for a man who has been arguably the greatest fast bowler for England.

Maybe he is not the same old Anderson which he was five years ago, but in conditions like these, he is still a class act and can rattle any top class batting line-up. India was an example in the last Test.

Ravichandran Ashwin

If India has to win the 3^rd Test, then Ravichandran Ashwin needs to play a big part. He was quite magnificent in the 1^st Test and troubled the English batters quite consistently.

However, if the pitch is green and not dry, it might not suit his style of bowling. But there is no doubt about the fact that Ashwin is a top-class bowler and will look to make a strong comeback in the 3^rd Test.

Ravi Ashwin is quite efficient with the bat as well. However, he has also been tested outside the off stump and has not been at his best with the bat. The offie will be one of the most important players for the visiting team who faces a must-win encounter.