England know that they'll need to be better if they are to beat an Indian side who look to be getting back to their best.
England got themselves out of a hole in the first Test against India, thanks to a second-innings ton from skipper Joe Root.
India will rue what might have been after they had their hosts on the ropes in the early stages of the Test only to see the match drawn.
England vs India | 12 August – 16 August 2021 | Lord’s, London
To Win Match
England 13/10
Draw 15/4
India 27/20
England
An England side without Ben Stokes didn’t pack enough punch to threaten to win the first Test of the series, but they cannot be written off at home.
If the hosts can avoid situations where they have two new batsmen at the crease they can be competitive.
Joe Root will be the key batsman for the hosts after his first Test heroics which swung momentum in their favour. The pressure will be on for the top three of Dom Sibley, Rory Burns and Zak Crawley, who are all light on Test runs.
Moeen Ali joins the England squad for the Test and could lend some backbone to the lower order and variety to the bowling attack.
It cannot be overstated how valuable a fit James Anderson is to England as he demonstrated in picking apart India’s top order.
India
India appeared well set for a victory push on the fifth day of the first Test against England, but mother nature had other ideas. The washout should serve as motivation for the tourists to be more cut-throat when they have Root’s troops pinned down.
Virat Kohli will be itching to get out into the middle having faced just one ball in the first Test before getting out to Anderson. The India skipper was denied a second innings by the weather and is renowned for his ability to bounce back from adversity.
India’s pace battery has improved immeasurably, and they can now arguably claim to outgun the hosts in that department led by the brilliant Jasprit Bumrah.
Test cricket is often about weathering the storms, both literal and figurative, and India must continue to make runs while the sun shines on them.
Verdict: India 27/20
India are getting into the groove and will take plenty of confidence from their showing in the first Test.
