- Friday, May 03, 2024
By: Shubham Ghosh
ENGLAND captain Ben Stokes said on the eve of the crucial fifth Test match against India that the home team will try to “operate in the same way” as they have this summer in the rescheduled game against the Asian side.
India, who will be led by seamer Jasprit Bumrah in the absence of Covid-hit Rohit Sharma, are leading the series 2-1. The fifth match, which was due to be played last September, was deferred because of a Covid-19 outbreak in the Indian camp. India, who were led by Virat Kohli then, won the second and fourth Tests while England won the second.
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England will be a confident lot going into the match starting at Edgbaston on Friday (1) as they have just annihilated Test world champions New Zealand 3-0.
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“It is different opposition but I made it very clear after the New Zealand series how we’re going to do things and we’re going to go out there and try to operate in the same way,” Stokes told BBC Test Match Special.
England displayed an aggressive approach in the three Tests against the Black Caps under Stokes and new coach Brendon McCullum and successfully chased 270-plus targets with relative ease against New Zealand.
“I know the bigger picture of it – trying to draw a series – but every game for me, so early on in my captaincy and trying to rebuild this team, is bigger than results,” the ace all-rounder said.
“It is bigger than that – it is about Test cricket.”
The Three Lions have made two changes from the team that played New Zealand in the third Test match at Headingley. Veteran seamer James Anderson has come back to replace Jamie Overton while Sam Billings, who was a Covid replacement for Ben Foakes in the third Test match, has returned.
Jonny Bairstow, who hit two fine centuries in the New Zealand series, took the gloves when an injured Foakes was off on Day 3 of the Headingley Test but Stokes said England want him to just “concentrate on batting”.
“Jonny is in the form of his life – he’s our best middle-order batter at the moment,” he added.
Overall, England are set to effect seven changes from the fourth Test of the original series which was played last year. India won that match by 157 runs with Sharma being adjudged as the man of the match.
India are yet to announce their playing XI but have confirmed that Bumrah will captain the side.
“It is a massive achievement – I told my family and they are very proud of me,” Bumrah said, adding, “I am very happy that this day has come.
“Nothing changes for me. I am just looking forward to helping the team and trying to understand how the game is heading and try and contribute to the best of my ability.”
Wicket-keeper-batter Rishabh Pant will be Bumrah’s deputy in the game.
