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One thing it’s not, alas, is a series decider. India’s mighty comeback in Ranchi gave them an unassailable 3-1 lead, and they are strongish favourites to win this game. England’s young bold soldiers probably don’t deserve to lose 4-1, but then nor did India when they toured England in 2018. No team has ever batted so aggressively against India in India, and a win in Dharamsala would make this … not a moral victory, let’s not go there, but maybe a qualified triumph. As Brendon McCullum said in rather different circumstances at Lord’s last summer, 3-2 has a nice ring to it.
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It’s bloody hard to win any Test in India; it’s even harder to win a dead rubber. India have only lost one at home in their entire history, against Australia at Bengaluru in 1997-98. They don’t play as many as you might think, just 16 overall, but there has been a pattern to the recent ones: opponents arrive for the final Test beaten and broken, their bodies on the field and their souls in the departure lounge.
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It feels like this England side are a bit different, and they have been bright-eyed and bushy-tailed in the build-up. But there’s only one truly reliable window into the soul of a cricket team. It begins at 4am GMT, 9.30am in Dharamsala.
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important events
Shoaib Bashir, who was in isolation yesterday due to a stomach complaint, is fit to play. However, with Ollie Robinson still in the team hotel, Marcus Trescothick and Paul Collingwood were officially registered as substitute fielders. Jimmy Anderson may not be the only player in his 40s on the field at this game.
India’s eleven is yet to be finalized, but Jasprit Bumrah will once again be seen bowling at high altitudes. Either Akash Deep or Kuldeep Yadav is likely to drop out, but it will be tough for Kuldeep after a great series.
India (probably) Jaiswal, Rohit (c), Gill, Patidar, Jadeja, Sarfaraz, Jurel (wk), Ashwin, Kuldeep/Deep, Bumrah, Siraj.
England Crawley, Duckett, Pope, Root, Bairstow, Stokes (c), Foulkes (wk), Hartley, Wood, Bashir, Anderson.
preamble
Hello. Welcome to the live coverage of his fifth and final Test between India and England in Dharamsala. This is a match with a split identity. In other words, it’s dead rubber. Celebrating Jonny Bairstow, Ravichandran Ashwin and Jimmy Anderson. World Test Championship points source. A travelogue with a little bit of cricket thrown in. And given the very cold conditions, it’s a warm-up for the county’s season.
Unfortunately, what isn’t the case is the series decider. India made a strong comeback in Ranchi to take a solid 3-1 lead and are considered favorites to win this match. England’s brave young soldiers probably didn’t deserve to lose 4-1, but neither did India when they toured England in 2018. No team in India has ever played so aggressively against India, and if they win in Dharamsala, this is not… A moral victory, I won’t go there, but maybe a qualified victory. As Brendon McCullum said in much different circumstances at Lord’s last summer, 3-2 has a nice ring to it.
It is very difficult to win Tests in India. Dead rubber is even harder to come by. India has lost only one match domestically throughout its history. 1997-98, match against Australia in Bangalore. They haven’t played as many games as you might think, just 16 overall, but there has been a pattern to their recent games. Opponents arrive at the final test beaten and hurt, their bodies on the field and their souls in the departure lounge.
This England team felt a little different, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed in the build-up. But cricket is his only truly reliable window into the soul of his team. In Dharamshala it starts at 4:00 a.m. GMT and 9:30 a.m. GMT.
