Following a close defeat at Lord’s, India battles to remain in the series as the fourth Test at Old Trafford approaches. England is the favourite in this crucial match because of their well-balanced squad and home advantage, especially since the conditions are favourable for seamers.
The stage is set for what seems to be a crucial match in the current England vs. India Test series at Old Trafford in Manchester. India is now in a do-or-die situation in the fourth Test, which begins on July 23, 2025, after losing the third Test at Lord’s by a heartbreaking score of 2-1. A victory here will guarantee that England completes the series with one game remaining.
India may have controlled more periods in the three Test matches while trailing in the series. India has frequently felt themselves in control, only to lose it during pivotal times, whether it was their impressive batting display at Headingley or their periods of dominance at Lord’s. The team captained by Shubman Gill will have to reverse this pattern and capitalize on crucial opportunities, particularly in difficult English circumstances where momentum may change quickly.
Under the aggressive leadership of Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum, England has adhered to its “Bazball” ideology, demonstrating tenacity and grasping opportunities. At pivotal moments, their bowling attack and the middle order’s timely contributions have put India on the defensive. They will have an insurmountable 3-1 advantage and another historic home series triumph over India if they win in Manchester.
Date and Time: Jul 23-Jul 27, 3:30 PM IST / 10:00 AM GMT / 11:00 AM LOCAL
Venue: Old Trafford, Manchester
The ground appears to be a possible fast bowler’s paradise as India and England prepare for the pivotal fourth Test match at Old Trafford. The surface seems to be a traditional green top, suggesting that there will be a lot of seam and lateral movement in the early going of the game.
The outfield is still wet from Manchester’s recent heavy rains, which may help swing bowling even more, especially under the usually cloudy sky. These are ideal conditions for seamers to take advantage of, and hitters are expected to find early morning sessions particularly difficult.
Batting may be very challenging in the first two sessions, particularly for top-order players, as fast bowlers will try to establish themselves early. In order to take advantage of the circumstances above and the freshness of the surface, captains who win the toss may choose to bowl first.
Bowlers: Jofra Archer, Mohammed Siraj, Brydon Carse
Wicketkeeper: Rishabh Pant
Batters: Joe Root, Shubman Gill, Harry Brook, Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul
All-rounders: Ben Stokes, Ravindra Jadeja
England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Liam Dawson, Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell
India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Anshul Kamboj, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Kuldeep Yadav, Shardul Thakur, Prasidh Krishna, Sai Sudharsan, Dhruv Jurel
Who will win the toss? – England
Who will win? – England
Top Batter (Runs Scored) – Ollie Pope (England), KL Rahul (India)
Top Bowler (Wickets taken) – Jofra Archer (England), Prasidh Krishna (India)
Most Sixes – Jamie Smith (England), Rishabh Pant (India)
Player of the Match—Jofra Archer (England)
Team Scores Batting first – England 320+, India 285+
Courtesy: https://www.espncricinfo.com/, https://www.firstpost.com/firstcricket/, https://m.cricbuzz.com/, https://www.skysports.com/
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