England vs India 2018, 5th Test Match, The Oval - Preview

With England already bagging the series by 3-1, some people will call it a dead rubber whereas some will say India will play for pride in the fifth Test match at the Kennington Oval, London. Kevin Pietersen once made a very good point when he said he doesn’t like it when they say a particular team will play for their pride. We bring you the detailed Match Preview.

When you represent your country at the topmost level, there is already a lot of pride and it should be a player’s biggest motivation. To give his 120%, to fight till the last ball, to not throw in the towel against all the odds, to give one’s best no matter what. Knowing Virat Kohli who has all these traits, the Indian skipper will like his teammates to come out and fight till their last breath.

India was close but yet so far.

The scoreline says 3-1, yes it could have been 3-1 in India’s favor or 2-2. However, there is no hindsight in any kind of sport. The scoreline doesn’t suggest the series is being competitive, except the Lord’s Test, but both the teams have fought tooth and nail.

Meanwhile, it must be frustrating to be Virat Kohli now. No, not because he is the best batsman in the world right now. However, because his team has lost another series on the foreign soil.

This current Indian team has shown the promise to do well in the overseas conditions, which brings more disappointment when they lose a series in foreign conditions. They have one aspect in their ranks, which the other teams were missing from their repertoire – a potent fast bowling line-up.

However, the pace battery has delivered the goods but it hasn’t amalgamated with the batting performances, which has been India’s strength since their first step in the game. Thus, India has once again missed the right balance between the two aspects of the game. However, they have checked the right boxes with their slip catching.

India has lacked the finishing touches.

Match Preview.

The most worrisome part which will be itching the Indian skipper would be the finishing touches with both bat as well as the ball. They have lacked the coup de grace in their armory whenever they had England on the mat. Whether it is not wiping out the tail or the inability for their batsmen to bat according to the conditions.

Yes, the tourists have been close but yet so far from their target. The Indian team has raced like Devon Loch, who had felled before the finishing line in the 1956 Grand National despite leading in most of the race.

Meanwhile, India has missed the trick somewhere. Sam Curran has breathed down their neck whenever he had a bat in his hand. Thus, the visitor’s bowlers didn’t put up the question of, “How to get rid of the 20-year prodigy,” in the team’s rendezvous.

Alastair Cook – England’s best.

On the other hand, Alastair Cook will be playing his swansong. What a career he has had!. No doubt, the southpaw opener will go down as one of England’s finest with over 12,254 runs, unless he repeats Don Bradman’s last innings score. In fact, Cook always played the game in the right spirit and was one of the best students of the game. Thus, he and England Cricket can be proud of the same.

England should also be given the credit to outplaying India at the imperative junctions of the match. The hosts have won those mini-battles within the battle. Therefore, they have the series under their grasp.

Kohli is fighting a lone battle.

Meanwhile, the Indian team management and Virat Kohli have also not read the conditions well. They played two spinners at Lord’s which was a fast bowler’s paradise whereas they played only Ravichandran Ashwin in Southampton where an extra spinner would have been handy.

Virat Kohli has been the lone warrior with the bat on most of the occasions for the visitors. The Indian skipper hasn’t found the same support from the other end. Meanwhile, Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara have found their form but it came too late for the tourists.

Bairstow could take back his gloves.

On the other hand, Jonny Bairstow was seen practicing his wicketkeeping drills and can get back to the main role of donning the gloves. Bairstow was disappointed to lose out on his role and it reflected on him mentally as well. The right-hander is one of England’s best batsman and it is crucial for him to keep his focus intact.

With series in the bag, the hosts could look to experiment with their playing combination. However, Joe Root’s men will not like to take their foot off the pedal.

Changes on the cards for India.

Meanwhile, there are reports the 18-year old prodigy batsman Prithvi Shaw is in contention to make his Test debut in place of KL Rahul. Ravichandran Ashwin is also not 100% fit and therefore, Ravindra Jadeja could play his first match of the tour. India can also go with an extra batsman, which has been the hue and cry of most of the experts, especially in testing batting conditions.

Karun Nair can get a place in the side instead of Hardik Pandya, provided if team management puts aside their stubbornness of playing their all-rounder in all condition. There is no doubt that Pandya is not a finished product but a work in progress player.

Match Preview.

Date and Time: 7th September 2018, 3:30 PM IST.

Venue: The Kennington Oval, London.

Pitch Conditions: Kennington Oval is going to bring an even contest between bat and ball like Southampton. The pitch is going to assist the fast bowlers on the first two days.

Weather conditions: It is going to be a chilly venue as the temperature is going to stay around 10 Degree Celsius. A period of rain is predicted for the second day of the Test match.

Form Guide (Results of last five Test matches)

England: WWWLW

India: WLLWL

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

India’s Probable XI: Prithvi Shaw, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Karun Nair, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ishant Sharma, Mohammad Shami, Jasprit Bumrah.

Stats: 

James Anderson has scalped 559 wickets thus far. Therefore, England pack leader is five wickets from leapfrogging Glenn McGrath’s tally of wickets.

Alastair Cook has scored 12,254 in his 160 Test matches and would end his career as England’s highest run-getter.