ENG vs IND: The Battle I Am Looking Forward To Is Ravichandran Ashwin vs Ben Stokes - Shane Watson

Former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson mentioned some notable player battles ahead of the one-off Test between England and India in Birmingham on Friday (July 1).

England are coming fresh from drubbing New Zealand 3-0 to kick off on a high note under the new era of captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum. For the first time in the history of Test cricket, a team chased 250-plus targets in three successive games – 277 at Lord’s, 299 at Trent Bridge and 296 at Headingley.

England faces a new challenge as they will look to level the five-match series against India with a win to make it 2-2. India were leading 2-1 before the Covid-19 cases in the visitors’ contingent postponed the final Test in Manchester last year in September.

Ravichandran Ashwin will be the man to get Ben Stokes’ wicket: Shane Watson

Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is not guaranteed a place in the playing XI for the fifth Test, the 35-year-old warmed the bench for all four Tests in England last year with Jadeja being preferred as the first-choice spinner in the team. Reports have suggested that Cheteshwar Pujara might open alongside Shubman Gill in Rohit Sharma’s absence. This could mean that India could accommodate both Ashwin and Jadeja in their starting XI.

Watson believes Ashwin will pose a serious challenge before England skipper Stokes during their battle as the Tamil Nadu spinner has dismissed the Durham all-rounder 10 times in international cricket in all formats.

“The battle that I am really looking forward to is Ashwin and Ben Stokes. Ashwin has had his measure a lot over his career. But now also there is more importance on Ben Stokes’ wicket, even more so than ever because he is captain,” Watson said on ‘The ICC Review Show.’

“In the Australian cricket team, it’s always like if we can work over the captain and try and make it a really not so good series for them, then the ship can start to sink a little bit. Ashwin is going to be the main man to try and make the most of that battle. He does match up incredibly well,” he added.

Virat Kohli vs James Anderson, it’s always the highlight: Shane Watson

Watson also pointed out the long-standing clash between Indian batter Virat Kohli and England pace bowler James Anderson as one of the great battles in the England-India Test series. Many experts believe this could be the last time the cricket world could witness the duo’s on-field contest given Anderson’s age and the gap for the next England-India Test series.

“Kohli vs Anderson, it’s always the highlight in the battle between England and India. Two of the titans in world cricket. Anderson had it over him right at the start of Virat’s Test career. But now, in recent times, he hasn’t been able to be as effective against Virat. But that’s always one of the great battles between England and India,” Watson said.

The rescheduled fifth Test between England and India will take place at the Edgbaston in Birmingham on Friday.

Also Read: IND vs ENG: What’s Happened Last Year In England I Have Forgotten It – Ravichandran Ashwin