2nd Test Preview: India Look To Reverse Fortunes Against England

India are likely to contemplate changes while England will be without the services of all-rounder Ben Stokes as the caravan now moves to Lord's for the second Test of the five-match series starting on Thursday. Stokes starred in England's 31-run win at Edgbaston last week, including taking the wicket of India captain Virat Kohli, who was the anchor of the tourists' run-chase. Stokes was omitted from the England squad because he is in court this week facing a criminal charge of affray. Fellow pace-bowling all-rounder Chris Woakes has been called up in his place to the England squad, with uncapped Surrey batsman Ollie Pope selected instead of Dawid Malan, dropped after a run of low scores.

As far as India are concerned, they too could make a top-order change with the experienced Cheteshwar Pujara waiting in the wings if struggling opener Shikhar Dhawan is dropped.

India also have the option of playing a second spinner, be it orthodox left-armer Ravindra Jadeja or left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav, with all-rounder Hardik Pandya the man most likely to miss out if either slow bowler is selected.

"It's a good choice, a tough one too," Bharat Arun, India's bowling coach, told reporters at Lord's on Tuesday.

"We really need to look at any change in strategy, depending on the wicket."

But Arun said Jasprit Bumrah was 'out of contention'. The paceman is still sidelined after missing the first Test with the broken thumb he suffered during a Twenty20 International against Ireland in June.

As for India needing more runs from their batsmen, Arun said: "If you look at the (Edgbaston) scores, it's only Virat Kohli and Joe Root who have been able to contend with the moving ball.

"The conditions were trying. The challenge is there for us to adapt even better and we have our plans in place."

But he was wary of playing an extra batsman at Lord's.

"I would consider that as a conservative move," Arun added.

"Everything depends on the conditions - and if the conditions are not going to be as friendly as in the first Test, it makes more sense to play five bowlers."

For England, off-spinner Moeen Ali, an accomplished batsman, could partner leg-break bowler Adil Rashid even though England captain Joe Root bowls occasional off-breaks.

England won their 1,000th Test courtesy of Surrey rising star Sam Curran.

After taking five wickets in his main role as a left-arm swing bowler, Curran's sparkling second-innings 63, his maiden Test fifty, enabled England to set India a tricky target of 194.

It proved beyond the tourists, despite Kohli making 51 to follow his first-innings 149 - the star batsman's maiden Test century on English soil.

Neither side made 300 in the match, England posting 287 before top-ranked India replied with 274 in the first innings.

India struggled against the swinging ball, with England finding it difficult to combat Ravichandran Ashwin's off-spin.

In 17 Tests since Root became captain in July 2017, England have managed just nine hundreds between them and, even more concerning for their fans, have been dismissed for under 300 in their first innings seven times and for under 250 in the second innings nine times.

If they are serious about rising from their current position of fifth in the world Test rankings, it is a problem England must address.

In Pope, they have a batsman who has been in superb form for County Championship leaders Surrey so far this season with 684 runs at a huge average of 85.50, including three centuries and a top score of 158 not out.

Root, frustratingly run out for 80 in England's first innings at Edgbaston, said it was important to put the side's batting struggles into perspective.

"I think it's sometimes easy to criticise the batting group but I thought the way both seaming groups in particular bowled was outstanding."

Squads:

India: Virat Kohli (capt), Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Rishabh Pant, Karun Nair, Hardik Pandya, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah.

England: Joe Root (capt), Alastair Cook, Keaton Jennings, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler, Oliver Pope, Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid, Jamie Porter, Sam Curran, James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Chris Woakes.

Match starts at: 3.30 pm IST.

(With AFP inputs)

Topics mentioned in this article

India Cricket Team England Cricket Team Virat Kohli Joe Root England vs India, 2018 Cricket England vs India, 2nd Test