England won the toss – again – and chose to bowl in grey Manchester conditions, leaving India’s Shubman Gill to call it “a good toss to lose”. Ben Stokes has now called correctly in all four Tests of the series, although no side has ever bowled first at Old Trafford and then won a Test.
“This morning’s overheads look handy for the seamers,” Stokes said. “It’s a typical Manchester pitch: firm with a smattering of grass. Hopefully, we can make use of it.”
India reshuffled, three changes appearing on the team sheet. Right-arm seamer Anshul Kamboj, a regular for Haryana and Chennai Super Kings, makes his Test debut. Sai Sudharsan slots in at No. 3 for Karun Nair, whose highest score so far is 40. Shardul Thakur returns alongside Kamboj, replacing the injured Nitish Kumar Reddy and Akash Deep.
Gill admitted he was “a bit confused” about what he would have done had he won the toss, India’s 14-match run of losing every men’s international toss continuing. Still, he felt the side had played well enough to be level in the series. “The way we have played in the last three matches has been outstanding,” he said, lamenting only the “small crunch moments” that separated the teams.
England’s XI was named 48 hours in advance, the only alteration forced. Liam Dawson, back after eight years away from Test cricket, steps in for Shoaib Bashir, who broke a little finger attempting a caught-and-bowled at Lord’s.
The clouds are heavy, the surface looks true, and both captains sound quietly confident. Now it comes down to whether England’s seamers can justify Stokes’ call – and whether Kamboj can settle fast on debut.
