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Match Details
Date: 01-05 July 2022
Time: 3 PM IST
Venue: Edgbaston, Birmingham
Ball-by-ball commentary: SportsTiger App
Preview
The much-awaited fifth Test between India and England will finally start on 1 July. A match that will decide whether India will create history or England will hold their fort at Edgbaston. The visitors are leading the five-match series 2-1 and will eye a Test series win for the first time in 15 years. Meanwhile, a revamped England under the captain-coach duo of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum is eager to thrash India like they did to New Zealand. All of this hype makes up for a mouth-watering contest between two top sides in Test cricket.
Pitch Report
The Edgbaston pitch has the reputation of aiding seamers on Day 1 of the play. However, the pitch eases up as the game progresses and batters get a role to play. In a nutshell, the Edgbaston pitch is a perfect Test match venue that has something for the bowlers all along the match.
Team Analysis
India
With COVID-19 entering the visitors' camp and getting the most important player of the team, captain Rohit Sharma, India are in a bit of trouble. They had the solid opening pair of Rohit and Rahul last time around but this time, they will have to get the job done with a relatively young pair. Cheteshwar Pujara is in line to open the innings with Shubman Gill who will have the tough job to see off the likes of James Anderson and Stuart Broad.
Hanuma Vihari will also play at the important No.3 position. Virat Kohli will take his usual spot, Number 4. Shreyas Iyer might get a chance to play at No.5. Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja will once again have the tough task to bat with the tailenders and bat through the innings in case the top order fails. The pace attack looks all sorted with Bumrah, Shami, Siraj, and Shardul set to feature in the eleven.
SportsTiger Playing XI of India
Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Hanuma Vihari, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah
England
The hosts are all geared up for the fifth Test and having whitewashed New Zealand, the Ben Stokes-led England are a tad ahead of India. All their players are in red-hot form. Be it Ollie Pope or Joe Root or Jonny Bairstow or captain Ben Stokes, everyone looked in great touch against New Zealand. The bowling attack also looks potent with Broad, Jamie Overton, Ben Stokes, Jack Leach, and Matthew Potts forming the attack. England do not have many issues to sort which is a good as well as a bad sign. This can also put them in a blind spot which India will be looking to exploit.
SportsTiger Playing XI of England
Alex Lees, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes (c), Sam Billings (wk), James Anderson, Matty Potts, Stuart Broad, Jack Leach
Match Prediction
Conclusion
England are in some serious form and they also have the home advantage. Thus, the Ben Stokes-led side are favorites to win the fifth Test.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the author’s point of view. They neither reflect the opinion of SportsTiger nor advise anyone to make any prediction based on this. SportsTiger does not assume any responsibility and liability for the same.