Rajkot: As expected, the generous amount of grass atop the surface at the Niranjan Shah Stadium visible on Tuesday was promptly shaved off, setting the stage for what could be a flat track which offers slow turn, when a largely inexperienced India and a feisty England clash in the third Test of what has turned out to be one of the most exciting series between the two sides in recent times, from Thursday.
Resuming after an eight-day break, the fascinating duel, currently locked at 1-1, could see more twists and turns before it ends at Dharamshala in the fifth and final Test.
The match assumes huge significance for the two stalwarts of world cricket—England skipper Ben Stokes is set to play in his landmark 100th Test, while India’s off-spin maestro R Ashwin is on the cusp of his 500th Test wicket, having taken 499 in a decorated career so far. Stokes has happy memories of this venue, having scored 128 in a drawn first Test here in 2016.
On the eve of the Test, India head coach Rahul Dravid and chief selector Ajit Agarkar were seen involved in a deep discussion at the India nets. Blooding rookies when the series is locked at 1-1 against a fearless, formidable opponent isn’t a preferable situation, but with key players ruled out due to injuries or unavailability, India have been left with few options but to try those who’ve impressed in the domestic circuit but been ignored.
Over the next five days or less, the world will see how India’s most inexperienced middle-order in a long time, which is missing former India captain Virat Kohli in this series and KL Rahul for this match, performs against the likes of James Anderson, Mark Wood (England have chosen to play two pacers, dropping off-spinner Shoaib Bashir), Tom Hartley, Rehan Ahmed and Joe Root, with each bowler presenting a different challenge.
This match could finally end the long wait of Mumbai’s domestic run-machine Sarfaraz Khan for an India cap. Having broken into the team after amassing 3912 runs in 45 First-Class matches at an impressive average of 69.85, in a tally that includes 14 centuries and 11 fifties, Sarfaraz knows that he has to make this rare opportunity count, since Rahul, out due to quadriceps injury, could be back for the next Test at Ranchi.
Another middle-order rookie, Rajat Patidar, who made 32 & 9 on his Test debut at Visakhapatnam, too would want to cash in on this chance. India’s ‘test of the untested’ doesn’t end in the batting, though. Behind the stumps, Dhruv Jurel, who has averaged 46.47 in 15 First-Class matches while playing for Uttar Pradesh, too is likely to wear the India Test shirt for the first time. The unavailability of Ishan Kishan and KS Bharat’s struggles has presented the 23-year-old with a huge opportunity, which he will look to grab with both hands.
In a scenario where they are likely to field their most inexperienced side in years, India will again bank on their best batter and bowler in the series, flamboyant opener Yashasvi Jaiswal (321 [email protected], including a double hundred in the last match) and pace ace Jasprit Bumrah (15 [email protected]) to fire hard at England.
However, they would also desperately want skipper Rohit Sharma to rediscover his brilliance at home. Trying to ape ‘Bazball’ for the last couple of years, the 36-year-old has often undersold himself in this period in all the formats. In the 26 Tests that he has played at home, out of 56 overall, Rohit has carved 2092 [email protected]. Eight out of his 10 Test hundreds have come in India, which isn’t surprising, given his prowess against the spinners even on square turners.
However, in this series, India have been missing their captain’s ‘Midas touch’ with the bat at home. After making scores of 24, 39, 14 & 13, Rohit would hope that the long break between the second and third Test brings about a change in his fortunes.
A boost for India will be the return from a hamstring injury of key all-rounder and ‘local hero’ Ravindra Jadeja, who is a lethal force at home.
Resuming after an eight-day break, the fascinating duel, currently locked at 1-1, could see more twists and turns before it ends at Dharamshala in the fifth and final Test.
The match assumes huge significance for the two stalwarts of world cricket—England skipper Ben Stokes is set to play in his landmark 100th Test, while India’s off-spin maestro R Ashwin is on the cusp of his 500th Test wicket, having taken 499 in a decorated career so far. Stokes has happy memories of this venue, having scored 128 in a drawn first Test here in 2016.
On the eve of the Test, India head coach Rahul Dravid and chief selector Ajit Agarkar were seen involved in a deep discussion at the India nets. Blooding rookies when the series is locked at 1-1 against a fearless, formidable opponent isn’t a preferable situation, but with key players ruled out due to injuries or unavailability, India have been left with few options but to try those who’ve impressed in the domestic circuit but been ignored.
Over the next five days or less, the world will see how India’s most inexperienced middle-order in a long time, which is missing former India captain Virat Kohli in this series and KL Rahul for this match, performs against the likes of James Anderson, Mark Wood (England have chosen to play two pacers, dropping off-spinner Shoaib Bashir), Tom Hartley, Rehan Ahmed and Joe Root, with each bowler presenting a different challenge.
This match could finally end the long wait of Mumbai’s domestic run-machine Sarfaraz Khan for an India cap. Having broken into the team after amassing 3912 runs in 45 First-Class matches at an impressive average of 69.85, in a tally that includes 14 centuries and 11 fifties, Sarfaraz knows that he has to make this rare opportunity count, since Rahul, out due to quadriceps injury, could be back for the next Test at Ranchi.
Another middle-order rookie, Rajat Patidar, who made 32 & 9 on his Test debut at Visakhapatnam, too would want to cash in on this chance. India’s ‘test of the untested’ doesn’t end in the batting, though. Behind the stumps, Dhruv Jurel, who has averaged 46.47 in 15 First-Class matches while playing for Uttar Pradesh, too is likely to wear the India Test shirt for the first time. The unavailability of Ishan Kishan and KS Bharat’s struggles has presented the 23-year-old with a huge opportunity, which he will look to grab with both hands.
In a scenario where they are likely to field their most inexperienced side in years, India will again bank on their best batter and bowler in the series, flamboyant opener Yashasvi Jaiswal (321 [email protected], including a double hundred in the last match) and pace ace Jasprit Bumrah (15 [email protected]) to fire hard at England.
However, they would also desperately want skipper Rohit Sharma to rediscover his brilliance at home. Trying to ape ‘Bazball’ for the last couple of years, the 36-year-old has often undersold himself in this period in all the formats. In the 26 Tests that he has played at home, out of 56 overall, Rohit has carved 2092 [email protected]. Eight out of his 10 Test hundreds have come in India, which isn’t surprising, given his prowess against the spinners even on square turners.
However, in this series, India have been missing their captain’s ‘Midas touch’ with the bat at home. After making scores of 24, 39, 14 & 13, Rohit would hope that the long break between the second and third Test brings about a change in his fortunes.
A boost for India will be the return from a hamstring injury of key all-rounder and ‘local hero’ Ravindra Jadeja, who is a lethal force at home.