🏏England tour of India 2024: 1st Test: 25 - 29 Jan 2024 - Day 4🏏 - Page 2

Welcome to the first of five Tests between two firecracker teams tussling with their own methods on surfaces everyone expects to take turn. Our first pitstop is Hyderabad, and the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Uppal, where the surface appears to have been selectively watered to ensure a decent amount of dryness.

Rohit Sharma went as far as saying "it's good" when asked about it. Ben Stokes had a wry smile as he described what he saw. It's time then for Bazball v India's spinners. Or is it Bazball v England's spinners?

India haven't lost a home Test series for more than 11 years. In fact, they've lost just three Tests (two vs Australia and one vs England) in India during that period. That's an incredible record. Ashwin and Jadeja - the spin twins - have made the visiting teams dance to their tunes. The two experienced tweakers, unsurprisingly, are once again expected to dominate proceedings. They will be up against an England side that's playing an exciting brand of cricket. Under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, England haven't lost a Test series and they've featured in a lot of memorable Test matches. So, will 'Bazball' work against the Indian spinners in Indian conditions? Can England's inexperienced spinners be as effective as their counterparts? One thing is for sure, this is going to be a cracking Test series. Hello everyone and a warm welcome to the first of the five Tests between India and England. The action isn't too far away. Are you excited?

England, in 2012, were the last team to register a Test series win in India. Alastair Cook & Kevin Pietersen batted brilliantly and the England spin duo of Graeme Swann & Monty Panesar outbowled the Indian spinners to register a famous come-from-behind series win. Joe Root and Ravindra Jadeja made their debuts in that series and they've come a long way. Root is currently the second highest run-getter for England in Tests and he has an impressive record against India. He also has a Test average of 50.10 in India. Being England's best player of spin, the No. 4 has a big role to play in the series. Playing fearless cricket and being positive from the word go has been the characteristic of Bazball and they certainly won't change their approach in this series, especially with the bat. They've already named their playing XI which features three spinners. The left-arm spinner, Jack Leach, will be back in action after six months. Leggie Rehan Ahmed is just one-Test-old. And Tom Hartley, another left-arm orthodox spinner, will be making his Test debut. Can they trouble the Indian batters?

Any surprise inclusions in the Indian XI? Turn from day one? We'll find out. Toss ain't too far away.

India failed to conquer their final frontier as they lost the Boxing Day Test in Centurion but they won the New Year's Test in Cape Town inside two days to square the series in South Africa. They are back home and India will start as firm favourites. For the first time in over 12 years, the Indian batting line-up will have none of Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane. Kohli pulling out of the first two Tests due to personal reasons would have made the selection call easier. Gill, Rahul and Shreyas Iyer are expected to bat at three, four and five and the hosts will pick a specialist wicketkeeper. In Ashwin, Jadeja and Axar Patel, not only do India have three top-class spinners but they are also handy batters lower down the order. Add Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, that's a formidable bowling attack in any conditions.

England have won the toss and have opted to bat

Pitch Report | Murali Kartik and Kevin Pietersen: It's a pitch of three parts. It has very dry edges close to the bat. It's a lot more dry on this side. Here, it's going to turn. In the middle of the surface, second part, there's an even covering of grass but it's dry underneath. Dry patches in the middle of the wicket. To the other side of the wicket, there's less dry patch closer to the bat. There's going to be a lot of spin. You win the toss and bat first. The spinners will come into play very soon.

Ben Stokes calls tails. Tails it is. England bat.

"Not sure what you gonna get, bat and get a big score," says Stokes. "Know the challenge India presents. This is an opportunity to do something special. Tom Hartley debuts, Rehan Ahmed plays his second Test and Jack Leach leads our spin department. Got full confidence in them. Wood is that x-factor bowler."

"We would've batted first as well," says Rohit. "Looks dry, played in these conditions a fair but to understand what we need to do. Got the skills, got guys who can do the job."

Teams:

India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma(c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Srikar Bharat(w), Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj

England (Playing XI): Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes(c), Ben Foakes(w), Rehan Ahmed, Tom Hartley, Mark Wood, Jack Leach

Shubman Gill: (Adjustment from opening to batting at three) Generally when you are opening, you are more used to going straightaway. It's all about how calm you can be and how much assessment you can do while you are out there and I got that quite a few times to do. In the first Test match, both Yashasvi and Rohit bhai both scored a century, I sat there for about 50-60 overs. If I sit out for 50-60 overs today, I would be happy. I like batting at three, I hope I'd be there for a long time. We are used to playing in these wickets and these conditions. It's about trusting your defence and then to be able to pounce on the opportunity that you get to score runs. Last year was a breakthrough year for me in white-ball. This year, I believe, is going to be a breakthrough year for me in red-ball.

England 32/0

Siraj bowling the 7th over

Jadeja bowling the 8 th over