🏏England tour of India 2024: 2nd Test: 02 - 06 Feb 2024 - Day 4🏏 - Page 2

Vizag. East coast of India. Temperature in the early 20s. No rain around. Perfect conditions for Test cricket unlike some parts of India that are freezing. And Test cricket that promises to be enthralling after England's shock win last week. Only the fourth Test India have lost at home in more than 11 years. On the three times that it has happened before, India have managed to defend their home turf, but look at the names they are missing: Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, KL Rahul.

And yet, you'd think that R Ashwin and Jasprit Bumrah should be able to carry India past a team whose attack is a 41-year-old lone seamer and a spin attack with an experience of three Tests between them. Then again it is an attack that conjured a win in a manner nobody envisages a Test win in India. You either hope to bat first on a batting paradise, which changes its nature dramatically when India bat, or you hope to outgun India on a proper bunsen where batting can become a lottery. You don't ever think you'd be able to beat India after a low first-innings score, almost exclusively bowl India out through boundary catches, but then put together a most sensational counterattacking comeback in the second innings.

England named their XI a day before the Test. James Anderson made his debut before two of the spinners in that attack were born. He has more experience than the rest of the two attacks put together. Shoaib Bashir is set to make debut in the absence of the inured Jack Leach. Their batting remains the same.

Pitch Report: The wicket looks like a beauty to bat on. All English fans would be smiling at that. The top layer in black soil, below is red soil. There will be turn but not too much on Day 1. Certainly a win toss, bat first kind of wicket. Both sides will play plenty of spinners but we expect the spinners to come into the contest later in the Test. The first two days certainly better for batting.

As expected, Shoaib Bashir has been given his Test cap. He will replace Jack Leach.

India have won the toss and have opted to bat.

Rohit Sharma: We'll bat first. Looks a good pitch, the pitch will do its thing, we need to play good cricket. What happened in Hyderabad is history, we need to move on. We have spoken on things we need to do, now we need to execute on our plans. I thought we batted well in the first innings, but didn't have the same intent. Similarly, in the second innings with the bowl there was a brilliant knock by Ollie Pope. Injuries are part and parcel of the game, but that's why we have the guys sitting on the bench. Two unforced changes - Jadeja and KL miss out, and Siraj has been rested. We've got Mukesh, Kuldeep and Rajat Patidar making his debut.

Ben Stokes: Would have batted as well. It was a great last week, but we know India will come back hard. To come from behind like we did was very pleasing. We'll take the confidence from that, but new week now. It is an amazing atmosphere to play in for the boys. To get such an opportunity at the start of their career will do wonders for their confidence.

Teams:

India (Playing XI): Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Rajat Patidar, Shreyas Iyer, Srikar Bharat(w), Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Mukesh Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav

England (Playing XI): Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes(c), Ben Foakes(w), Rehan Ahmed, Tom Hartley, Shoaib Bashir, James Anderson

Thanks for the tag

END OF OVER 5

1 run

IND: 14/0

CRR: 2.80

Yashasvi Jaiswal

9 (19b 2x4)

Rohit Sharma

5 (11b)

James Anderson

3-0-5-0

Joe Root

2-0-9-0

IND 15/0 (6.3)

CRR: 2.31

Day 1: 1st Session

Partnership: 15(40)

Ovs Left: 83.2

Toss: India (Batting)

Originally posted by: Savera84

India vs England Head-to-Head

India and England have locked horns 132 times, with India bagging 31 wins while England secured 51 victories. In the last 17 Tests at home, Team India have registered eight wins and six defeats.

India vs England Match Prediction

A lot depends on the pitch laid out for the much-awaited encounter. Despite losing the first Test, Team India will start the contest as the strong favourites. Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul’s absence might hurt them, but the hosts are expected to win.

Prediction: India to win

Thanks for the tag ji..best of luck men in white 🤍😉

END OF OVER 11

4 runs

IND: 27/0

CRR: 2.45

Rohit Sharma

12 (30b)

Yashasvi Jaiswal

15 (36b 2x4)

Tom Hartley

1-0-4-0

Joe Root

5-0-17-0