HYDERABAD: India will face England in the first of a high-profile five-match series starting in Hyderabad on Thursday.
Looks at three key clashes that could shape the series.
Rohit v Anderson
The pivotal clash between captain Rohit Sharma and James Anderson is set to be a crucial showdown, featuring the dynamic opening batsman pitted against the seasoned fast bowler.
In the past eight Tests since assuming the role of opener, Rohit has amassed an impressive 713 runs against England, consistently confronting Anderson’s formidable opening spells with resilience.
One standout performance was Rohit’s game-changing 127 in the second innings of the 2021 Oval Test, where he dominated the England bowling attack, led by Anderson alongside Ollie Robinson.
During the series, Rohit’s crucial 83 in the first innings at Lord’s played a pivotal role, although Anderson prevented the batsman from reaching a century, minimizing the potential damage.
Despite, Anderson dismissing Rohit twice in Tests, the 41-year-old speedster aims to enhance his tally as he approaches the milestone of 700 wickets.
Root v Ashwin and Jadeja
The success of England in the series heavily depends on Joe Root’s form, particularly in his ability to navigate India’s spinners, especially the formidable duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. Root, known for his audacious reverse sweep against spinners, emerged as the leading run-scorer in the 2021 four-Test series in India, amassing 368 runs, including a century, despite England’s 3-1 defeat.
In the past, Ashwin dismissed Root twice in eight innings, while Axar Patel’s left-arm spin got the better of him three times on turning pitches. Additionally, Jadeja accounted for Root’s wicket three times in 2016. As England faces the spin threat once again, Root, with a stellar record of over 11,000 Test runs at an average exceeding 50, aims to motivate and lead his fellow batters in overcoming this challenging aspect of the series.
Crawley v Bumrah
A strong start is crucial, and England rely on top-order batsman Zak Crawley to anchor the team with solid beginning against the formidable Indian pace attack on potentially challenging pitches. Crawley showcased his prowess as an opener in the previous Ashes, amassing 480 runs, including a century against Australian bowling lineup led by Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins. However, his performance in the 2021-22 series against India were disappointing, succumbing to Jasprit Bumrah thrice in Birmingham and Nottingham across two Tests. With Bumrah, a yorker specialist boasting 140 Test wickets, spearheading the pace attack alongside Mohammed Siraj in the absence of the injured Mohammed Shami, India’s team aim for early breakthroughs to pave the way for spinners to dominate later in the innings.
