The rescheduled fifth Test will begin on July 1.
Ravichandran Ashwin was not included in the playing eleven for any of India's four Test matches in England last year and it became a constant topic of conversation, especially after the off-spinner’s impressive performance down under in the 2020/21 series, where he took 12 wickets in 3 Tests.
Ravindra Jadeja, the left-arm spinner, was picked by India alongside four pacers due to his superior all-around abilities.
The combination worked just fine as the visitors had a 2-1 series lead before the fifth Test was postponed due to a Covid outbreak in the Indian camp.
It is tough to see India's team management fielding the same bowling combination as they prepare for the Edgbaston Test starting on July 1, even though it could mean leaving out their most premium spinner.
England all-rounder Moeen Ali, though, feels India should include Ashwin and Jadeja as he believes, the conditions in Birmingham would offer turn to both the veteran players.
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“Ashwin and Jadeja are brilliant all-rounders. I would personally play them both in this Test because the conditions have been extremely dry at Edgbaston for the past 4-5 weeks. I would go with three seamers and two spinners. The pitch will definitely offer turn, although not for the first day or two,” Moeen, who hails from Birmingham, said during a media interaction on Tuesday.
The batting lineup, aside from the then-captain Joe Root, wasn't in the best of shape when India last visited England; however, this time, under the leadership of Ben Stokes, they are coming off a 3-0 clean sweep victory over the defending World Test champions New Zealand. In fact, the English team became the first team to complete 250-plus chases in three successive Tests.
The team's batting plan was similar to their aggressiveness in white-ball cricket since Stokes and Brendon McCullum, the team's new captain and coach, took over last month.
Although the Indian bowling attack may present a greater challenge, Moeen expects the English batters to adhere to this strategy.
“The tables have turned big time now. If you asked me even four-five weeks ago, I would have said India will win. But the way England have changed their mindset and the positive cricket they are playing, I would say they are favorites. England have just played three good Tests while India are a bit undercooked. The England batters can keep it going. I don’t think it will be as extreme, especially against a quality Indian bowling attack. But England will be a lot more attacking than they have been previously,” he said.
The 33-year-old, who had announced his Test retirement following the home series against India last year, has made himself eligible for Test selection and England’s ‘re-emergence’ has a major role to play in that.
“As soon as Brendon got the job, he asked me if I want to play again. The mindset has changed with McCullum and Stokes taking over and their brand of cricket is the way I like to play. It’s a bit more positive and attacking. That’s one of the big reasons why I am available for Tests again. At the time I retired, I was tired of the same old mindset. We were not playing well as a team and things seemed disorganized,” he stated further.
(HT INPUTS)