India’s upcoming 4th test against England at Old Trafford is amped up to be a do-or-die fixture for the young Indian side in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. As India trails 1-2 in the series after registering a narrow defeat to England in the third Test at Lord’s, a defeat in the fourth Test could seal the team’s fate in the five-match series.
India faces squad management troubles amidst growing injury concerns, with several key players impacted throughout the series. Both fast bowlers Arshdeep Singh and Akash Deep are set to miss the 4th match due to injuries. Whereas all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, a vital contributor in the second and third Tests, has been ruled out for the remainder of the series, citing medical concerns.
Meanwhile, the Ben Stokes-led side has announced their XI with just one change of Liam Lawson replacing Shoaib Bashir, who has also been put on rest for the remainder of the series due to a finger injury sustained by the player in the third Test.
India vs England 4th Test: Head-to-head record at Old Trafford
India and England have played a total of nine Test matches at Old Trafford. Where four Test matches were won by England, and the remainder ended in draws. India is yet to claim a victory against England in the test format at the iconic venue.
India vs England 4th Test: Persistent rain in Manchester
The Indian team arrived in Manchester with the city drenched by persistent showers. The weather forecast predicts light rain throughout the five-day Test match, in line with the city’s experience of regular rainfall for the past week. On Wednesday, the opening day of the Test, there’s a high possibility of rain (65% precipitation) with temperatures ranging from 14 to 19 degrees Celsius. Rain delays are expected during the match, which is scheduled to begin at 3:00 pm IST.
India vs England 4th Test: Pitch conditions at Old Trafford
Overcast and damp conditions on day one at Old Trafford stand to benefit fast bowlers. As per former English player Mike Atherton, humid conditions might lead Gautam Gambhir and Shubman Gill to consider Shardul Thakur as a pace-bowling all-rounder over Kuldeep Yadav, the wrist spinner whose deliveries would have fared better on a dry surface.