For the second Test against England, India needs to rethink its team selection to get 20 wickets on what’s expected to be a good batting pitch.
The team felt the absence of a specialist bowler like Kuldeep Yadav in Leeds where England chased down 371. Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate said they’re still debating how to pick players who can get wickets and give the team the best chance in the Test.
Birmingham’s hot weather has resulted in a dry pitch with some grass. Spin could play a role so India has to decide between Washington Sundar and Kuldeep to partner with Ravindra Jadeja. They will play two spinners.
Nitish Reddy might replace Shardul Thakur who didn’t do well in Leeds as the fast bowling all-rounder. Doubts remain about Jasprit Bumrah’s fitness; if he’s out, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep and Prasidh Krishna will be the pace attack.
After dropping catches in Leeds, India needs to improve their fielding. The batting looks solid but they need late innings runs after recent collapses. Players like K L Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill will look to build on their previous performances. Sai Sudharsan and Karun Nair will get another chance.
England seems to have adapted their aggressive Bazball strategy. Jofra Archer is out due to a family emergency but the pace attack led by Chris Woakes will be confident after finishing off India’s tail twice. Woakes will be expected to get early wickets and Josh Tongue will look to exploit India’s lower order. Bowler Brydon Carse improved as the game went on and Ben Stokes made the most of the conditions. Sporting pitches seem to suit England’s batting approach and that will continue.
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ENG vs IND Team Squads for 2nd Test:
England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (WK), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir.
India: Shubman Gill (captain), Rishabh Pant (VC & WK), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav.
