In this article, we preview England vs India, 4th Test match of the Pataudi Trophy series on the India tour of England, beginning on September 2, 2021, at the Oval.
Match Predictions
Last Meeting
In the third test at Leeds, Kohli won the toss for a change. In hindsight, it was a good toss to lose. Electing to bat first, India were soon in trouble losing their top three batsmen with only 21 runs on the board. There was a glimmer of hope as Sharma and Rahane got together in a partnership, but Rahane’s wicket on the stroke of lunch left India vulnerable at 56 for 4. After lunch, India lost their last six wickets for the addition of only 22 runs. Sharma top scored with 19 and apart from Rahane who made 18, no other batsman got into double figures. By the end of the day’s play, England were in a commanding position at 120 for no loss, with both openers registering half-centuries. Among the England bowlers, Anderson’s accuracy and swing with the new ball was too hot for the Indian top order to handle. All the England bowlers got wickets, including Overton who returned impressive figures of 3/14.
After the early loss of the openers, England dominated the second day, thanks to Joe Root’s 3rd century of the series and Malan’s fifty. But India took five wickets in the last session to restrict England to 423/8. Shami took 4/95 making him the tourists’ best bowler on the day.
On the third day, India lost little time in taking the remaining two wickets before Sharma and Rahul proceeded to bat sensibly on a wicket that appeared to have eased off. But for a brilliant catch by Bairstow to send back Rahul, the visitors would have been in a much better position. But as it transpired, Pujara regained his lost form and engaged in fruitful stands, first with Sharma, and then with Kohli. At the end of the third day’s play, India were 215/2, harbouring visions of a stunning comeback in the match. England bowlers faced the prospect a long toil on the fourth day, with Pujara batting on 91, and Kohli on 45.
But that was not to be as India lost both Pujara and Kohli within the first 12 overs of the fourth morning. In another inexplicable collapse, they lost the remaining eight wickets in the space of an hour to be all out for 278. Ollie Robinson took 5/66 and was named man of the match.
Likely XIs
England: Burns, Hameed, Malan, Root, Bairstow, Pope, Moeen Ali, Overton, Woakes, Robinson, Anderson
India: Sharma, Rahul, Pujara, Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Jadeja, Pant, Thakur, Bumrah, Shami, Siraj
Head-to-Head
Match Prediction
In our ENG vs IND match prediction, we forecast an England victory over India in the 4th test at the Oval.
Summary
There has been a momentum shift in the series after England’s big win at Leeds. England have found their best batting combination, with Hameed coming good at the top of the order, alongside Burns, in the third test. England will also have the services of Woakes who is likely to replace Sam Curran. By contrast, Rahane’s form has been worrisome for India who will have to drop their vice-captain, replacing him with Suryakumar Yadav. Ishant Sharma who had a forgettable 3rd test is also likely to make way for Shardul Thakur.