The fiercely contested five-match Test series between England and India shifts to Old Trafford, Manchester, with the hosts holding a narrow 2-1 advantage. Following three gripping encounters, England, led by Ben Stokes, secured a thrilling victory at Lord’s, putting them ahead after both teams traded wins in Leeds and Birmingham. For Shubman Gill & Co., the upcoming match is a critical must-win to keep their hopes of lifting the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy alive, effectively setting up a virtual final in Manchester.
ENG vs IND, 4th Test: Preview
For the Manchester Test, England have made one strategic change: left-arm spinner Liam Dawson replaces the injured Shoaib Bashir, who fractured a finger at Lord’s. Dawson’s recall after an eight-year absence (his last Test was in 2017) bolsters England’s spin attack and provides valuable lower-order batting depth.
India, however, faces a significant injury crisis. All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy is out for the series with a knee injury, and fast bowler Akash Deep is also not complete. Potential replacement Arshdeep Singh is unavailable due to a thumb injury, leading to the call-up of uncapped pacer Anshul Kamboj as cover. Adding to India’s woes, wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant is struggling with a finger injury, potentially forcing him to play as a specialist batter and opening the door for Dhruv Jurel to take the gloves.
ENG vs IND Head to Head Record at the Old Trafford
- Total Test matches played: 9
- England won: 4
- India won: 0
- Draw: 5
Also READ: ENG vs IND – Michael Atherton picks India’s bowling combination for the Manchester Test against England
Test stats and records at the Old Trafford
- Total matches: 86
- Matches won batting first: 32
- Matches won bowling first: 17
- Average 1st innings scores: 331
- Average 2nd innings scores: 275
- Average 3rd innings scores: 226
- Average 4th innings scores: 169
- Highest total recorded: 656/8 (255.5 Ov) by AUS vs ENG
- Lowest total recorded: 58/10 (21.4 Ov) by IND vs ENG
Also READ: ENG vs IND – India’s playing XI for the 4th Test in Manchester against England [Predicted]
