In Dharamsala, India, England has made a single change to their side for the final test against India, bringing in fast bowler Mark Wood in place of Ollie Robinson. England is looking to secure a consolation victory in this match after India took an unassailable 3-1 lead in the series with a win in Ranchi. The final test will take place at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium.
Wood will join James Anderson in England’s seam attack, while Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir will handle the spin duties, with captain Joe Root also providing some off-spin when needed. Captain Ben Stokes expressed confidence in the decision to go with two seamers and two spinners for this match.
Stokes noted that the pitch looks like it will favor the batters, and he will be looking to his teammates to make the most of the conditions. He singled out Jonny Bairstow, who will be playing his 100th test, as someone he hopes will rise above his recent poor form.
Stokes shared his thoughts on the pitch, saying that it looks like a great wicket for batting, making it difficult for captains to decide whether to bat or bowl first. The team will need to adapt to the conditions as the test progresses.
On the other hand, India, who have already secured their 17th consecutive test series win at home, can afford to relax in Dharamsala. However, off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin will be eager to make his 100th test a memorable one, especially after reaching the milestone of 500 test wickets in the ongoing series.
Home captain Rohit Sharma praised Ashwin, referring to him as a “match-winner” for the team. He highlighted Ashwin’s consistent performance over the years and acknowledged his rare talent as a player who contributes significantly to every series he plays in.
Overall, both teams are gearing up for an exciting final test in Dharamsala, with England hoping to salvage some pride with a victory while India looks to further cement their dominant performance in the series. The matchup promises to be a thrilling conclusion to what has been a riveting five-match series between two competitive sides.
With expectations high and stakes even higher, all eyes will be on the players as they take to the field in Dharamsala for what is sure to be a memorable and closely contested test match.
Stay tuned for more updates on this final test between England and India as the action unfolds in Dharamsala.
(Reporting by Amlan Chakraborty in New Delhi; editing by Christian Radnedge)
