Ben Stokes looked at the stubborn cloud cover over Edgbaston, thought about the way the ball moved a bit at Headingley, and chose to bowl. Simple enough call, really, and it leaves England chasing a 2-0 cushion after their win last week.
The bigger headline belongs to India. Jasprit Bumrah has been rested – “kept in the chamber”, as one coach put it – so that he is fresh for the three Tests that follow, starting at Lord’s. In his place comes the uncapped quick Akash Deep. Two further switches: all-rounder Washington Sundar replaces Shardul Thakur, and Nitish Kumar Reddy, another debutant, comes in for B Sai Sudharsan. Karun Nair, recalled after nearly five years, slots in at No.3.
Captain Shubman Gill admitted the pitch might have persuaded him to bowl as well, but the decision on Bumrah was made well in advance. “We did get a good break… but the third match of the series being at Lord’s, there might be a little bit more in the wicket so we thought we’d play him in the third one,” said Gill.
Kuldeep Yadav was discussed, Gill added, yet batting depth carried the day. “We were very tempted to play him (Kuldeep). But looking at the last match, the lower order did not score many runs,” he explained. In Leeds, India’s Nos. 8-11 scraped nine runs in two innings; Washington’s presence nudges that tail forward a touch.
For England, it is the easiest team sheet of the summer: same XI as Headingley. The last time they kept things unchanged through the opening two home Tests of a series was South Africa in 2017. Continuity feels like a rare luxury.
Former seamer Angus Fraser, speaking on county radio, reckons Stokes’ call is sound enough without being foolproof. “There’s usually a bit in this surface early doors, but if India get through the morning 80 for one, it suddenly looks flat,” he said. Fair point – Edgbaston can do that.
History tilts firmly England’s way: seven wins and a draw from eight Tests against India here. But Bumrah or no Bumrah, this Indian attack is still lively. Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and the new lad Akash Deep make a brisk, if inexperienced, trio; Ravindra Jadeja and Washington offer spin and control.
Teams
England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (capt), Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir.
India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Shubman Gill (capt), Rishabh Pant (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.
First ball at 11am. If the forecast showers behave, we should be in for a decent scrap.
