England and India in search of the Lord of the Lord, the selection is essential to visitors
Ind vs Eng: With the series locked at 1-1, Team India must sort their XI for Lord’s, to expect a favorable result.
It is almost time for the big ind vs engine confrontation to the Lord, and the issues could not be higher. A victory in this place could simply decide the fate of the series, and India and England will not want to miss this opportunity. But after two places of score, Lord could be little different, from what we have been witnesses so far.
The Archer Jofra factor at Lord’s
It is a place that promises to offer a competition equal to the bat and the ball, despite the conditions above. The Pacers could be generously rewarded for the test lines, a functionality that was missing in Leeds, and somewhat in Edgbaston. And that is why the hosts confirmed that Jofra Archer, who will play his first test since 2021.
Two spinners, or one?
Nevertheless, it could be a cracker of a competition, and India would like to go with a single spinner – in Ravira Jadeja or Washington Sundar. Traditionally, there is not a lot of help for slower, and two spinners could simply be a bad ploy. Instead, India would like to be corrected in an additional striker; which is a different debate.
It also means that Mohammed Siraj could once again get a green signal, despite making a blow of more than 70 letters in the series. Shubman Gill could be tempted to give him another blow, before he pauses at Old Trafford. This means that the battery of India’s rhythm could look like – Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Deep and Siraj.
Last chance for Karun Nair
The front front looks sorted with Kl Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant, all in Fine Nick. The only exception to an otherwise solid striker was, Karun Nair. He has marked 0, 20, 31 and 26 so far, and has left a lot to be desired. So the Lord could well be its last chance in this series, at least.
Rest, this is a field where India won three games – the 151 of 2021 victory being the last. It is also a place where they lost 12. So having preconceived concepts in this place, is futile. In short, it is a field that will suit the bowling alley, and the striker would not become easy until the third day. India would therefore want to beat second, for a change.
Indian team: Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant (WK), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Kl Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwan, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (WK), DHruv Jurel (Wak), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jurel (Wak), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jurel (Wak), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jurel (Wak). Mohammad Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav.
England playing XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (C), Jamie Smith (WK), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir.
Publisher’s choice
Cricket “knew it since IPL”: Rishabh Pant opens with the difficulties of Akash Deep
High level stories
