England v India: Three key battles
LONDON: Ben Stokes' England take on an India team under new captain Shubman Gill at Headingley on Friday in the first Test of a five-match series.
The visitors are embarking on a new era without heavyweights Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma as they seek to end their 18-year wait for a Test series win in England.
Captain Shubman Gill to bat at number four as India look to fill Kohli void
AFP Sport looks at three key battles that could define the series, which comes at the start of a new cycle in the World Test Championship.
Bumrah v England's top order
Jasprit Bumrah can lay claim to being the best all-format bowler in world cricket today, with his Test figures of 205 wickets at under 20 apiece putting the paceman alongside the greats of the game.
But with five gruelling matches to come in less than seven weeks, Bumrah, who suffered a back injury in Australia in January, is unlikely to feature in every game.
Blessed with a unique action and an ability to generate sharp pace off a short run, the 31-year-old is one of the most difficult bowlers for batsmen to face.
He was crowned ICC men's cricketer of the year for 2024 after taking 71 Test wickets at a remarkable average of just 14.92.
Wisden editor Lawrence Booth described Bumrah as 'uniquely challenging' as he was named the leading men's cricketer in the world in the 2025 edition.
England's hope is that they can blunt Bumrah, forcing him to bowl more overs than he would like. If they achieve that it might be half the battle won.
Skippers: Stokes v Gill
Shubman Gill would love nothing more than to lead from the front in his first series as India captain.
The 25-year-old, however, has a modest Test batting average of 35 in 32 matches and a paltry average of under 15 in three matches in England.
Gill has a tough task in shaping a new-look side without retired star batsman Kohli and former skipper Rohit as he targets India's fourth series win in England following triumphs in 1971, 1986 and 2007.
He will be pitting his wits against Stokes, who has repeatedly demonstrated a priceless ability to inspire those around him since succeeding Joe Root as England captain in 2022.
But are his superhuman all-round powers waning?
It is now two years since Stokes made the last of his 13 Test hundreds, a remarkable 155 against Australia at Lord's, and he has been dogged by injuries.
However, the 34-year-old remains a threat with his lively medium pace, showing again in last month's Test win against Zimbabwe his enduring ability to take wickets at key times.
Keepers: Smith v Pant
It is increasingly rare for a Test wicketkeeper to be selected purely on the quality of their work behind the stumps, with runs now a major factor.
Nobody better exemplifies this trend than India's Rishabh Pant, who averages just over 42 in 43 matches, with six hundreds, and has the ability to dismantle attacks.
At his sharpest, Pant is capable of spectacular dismissals in the field, although there are occasions when he can appear to lose concentration.
England 'keeper Jamie Smith, 24, is just 10 Tests into a highly promising international career, averaging a shade under 43 after displacing Surrey teammate Ben Foakes, widely regarded as the superior gloveman.
With England deploying an inexperienced bowling attack, it will be even more important than usual for Smith to take every chance that comes his way.
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Express Tribune
33 minutes ago
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India begin new era sans Kohli, Rohit
Shubman Gill will be in the spotlight as a new-look India, without star batsmen Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, bid to end their 18-year wait for a Test series win in England. Gill succeeded Rohit as captain after the latter announced his retirement from Test cricket last month. Just days later, Kohli said he was bowing out of red-ball internationals as well. Gill also has the additional responsibility of filling Kohli's shoes at number four in the batting order. India vice-captain Rishabh Pant on Wednesday revealed that was where his new skipper would bat in the first of a five-Test series against England starting at Headingley on Friday. The 25-year-old Gill has a modest Test batting average of 35 in 32 matches, a figure that drops to 29 in away games and declines even further to under 15 in three matches in England. India's number four position has been dominated during the past three decades by all-time batting great Sachin Tendulkar and Kohli, who in that specific position scored 21,056 runs between them in 278 Tests. Gill's first challenge will be ensuring the demands of captaincy don't detract from his batting in England, where India have won just three Test series -- in 1971, 1986 and 2007. Thus far Gill has made all the right noises, saying last month: "I believe in leading by example — not just by performance, but, I think, off the field by discipline and hard work." He will have the ebullient Pant to lean on after the wicketkeeper-batsman's return from a life-threatening car crash in 2022, while opener Yashavsi Jaiswal is one of the game's rising stars. But it is not just in batting where India — who have had limited warm-up time in England — must cope without stalwart performers. Jasprit Bumrah is arguably the best all-format bowler in world cricket at present but, following a back injury lay-off, the quick may only play in three of the five Tests given the tight schedule. Veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has retired from Test cricket, while experienced Mohammed Shami, not fully fit following ankle surgery last year, has been omitted. If there are concerns about India's ability to take the 20 wickets they need to win a match, those doubts apply to England as well. Beaten 4-1 in India last year, Ben Stokes' men are tipped to turn the tables on home soil in a series that launches the new cycle of the World Test Championship following South Africa's dramatic defeat of Australia in last week's final at Lord's. England, however, are without the retired duo of James Anderson and Stuart Broad, their two most successful Test bowlers of all time with a combined 1,308 wickets between them. "It feels so good when both of them are not there," said Pant, adding: "But at the same time, they have enough ammunition in the England bowling line-up. "We don't want to take anyone lightly because our team is also young and still looking to develop themselves." England's desire to field an attack including both Jofra Archer and Mark Wood has been hampered by repeated injuries to the fast bowlers. Both Archer and Wood will be missing at Headingley, where Durham paceman Brydon Carse is set to make his home debut in an attack where Chris Woakes, who missed most of the start of the season with an ankle injury, is the senior seamer. "There's no hiding away from the fact that, over a number of years, England have had Broad and Anderson as the main two bowlers, so it is slightly more inexperienced," said Carse. The 29-year-old added: "I think it's a good chance for a couple of younger players, with slightly less experience, to stamp down some authority throughout the series." Broad, however, told The Times: "Looking at England, with all the injuries they've got — where are they getting 20 wickets?"
Business Recorder
16 hours ago
- Business Recorder
England v India: Three key battles
LONDON: Ben Stokes' England take on an India team under new captain Shubman Gill at Headingley on Friday in the first Test of a five-match series. The visitors are embarking on a new era without heavyweights Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma as they seek to end their 18-year wait for a Test series win in England. Captain Shubman Gill to bat at number four as India look to fill Kohli void AFP Sport looks at three key battles that could define the series, which comes at the start of a new cycle in the World Test Championship. Bumrah v England's top order Jasprit Bumrah can lay claim to being the best all-format bowler in world cricket today, with his Test figures of 205 wickets at under 20 apiece putting the paceman alongside the greats of the game. But with five gruelling matches to come in less than seven weeks, Bumrah, who suffered a back injury in Australia in January, is unlikely to feature in every game. Blessed with a unique action and an ability to generate sharp pace off a short run, the 31-year-old is one of the most difficult bowlers for batsmen to face. He was crowned ICC men's cricketer of the year for 2024 after taking 71 Test wickets at a remarkable average of just 14.92. Wisden editor Lawrence Booth described Bumrah as 'uniquely challenging' as he was named the leading men's cricketer in the world in the 2025 edition. England's hope is that they can blunt Bumrah, forcing him to bowl more overs than he would like. If they achieve that it might be half the battle won. Skippers: Stokes v Gill Shubman Gill would love nothing more than to lead from the front in his first series as India captain. The 25-year-old, however, has a modest Test batting average of 35 in 32 matches and a paltry average of under 15 in three matches in England. Gill has a tough task in shaping a new-look side without retired star batsman Kohli and former skipper Rohit as he targets India's fourth series win in England following triumphs in 1971, 1986 and 2007. He will be pitting his wits against Stokes, who has repeatedly demonstrated a priceless ability to inspire those around him since succeeding Joe Root as England captain in 2022. But are his superhuman all-round powers waning? It is now two years since Stokes made the last of his 13 Test hundreds, a remarkable 155 against Australia at Lord's, and he has been dogged by injuries. However, the 34-year-old remains a threat with his lively medium pace, showing again in last month's Test win against Zimbabwe his enduring ability to take wickets at key times. Keepers: Smith v Pant It is increasingly rare for a Test wicketkeeper to be selected purely on the quality of their work behind the stumps, with runs now a major factor. Nobody better exemplifies this trend than India's Rishabh Pant, who averages just over 42 in 43 matches, with six hundreds, and has the ability to dismantle attacks. At his sharpest, Pant is capable of spectacular dismissals in the field, although there are occasions when he can appear to lose concentration. England 'keeper Jamie Smith, 24, is just 10 Tests into a highly promising international career, averaging a shade under 43 after displacing Surrey teammate Ben Foakes, widely regarded as the superior gloveman. With England deploying an inexperienced bowling attack, it will be even more important than usual for Smith to take every chance that comes his way.
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