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ENG vs IND 3rd Test Dream11 & Fan2Play Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

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Last Updated on 4 weeks by Charbel Coorey

ENG vs IND 3rd Test Dream11 & Fan2Play Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | ENG vs IND 3rd Test Dream11 Prediction Today | England vs India 3rd Test Key Players | Leeds Pitch Report

So, the caravan of the Indian tour of England moves to the North of England with Headingley set to host the visitors for a Test match after a gap of 19 years, starting August 25.

The battle for the Pataudi Trophy will resume after a gap of nine days and the Virat Kohli-led Indian team will be hoping to pick up from where they had left at Lord’s as they aim a Test series win in the UK after a gap of 14 years.

The fifth day of the Lord’s Test was yet another example of why this Indian team under the leadership of Virat Kohli can never be taken for granted. England took them for granted on the fifth morning as they resorted to ‘sweet chin music’ against Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami after having dismissed the danger man, Rishabh Pant.

As it turned out, the move backfield heavily as the duo of Shami and Bumrah batted England out of the game with a barely believable 89-run-stand. Afterwards, the ‘four horse of Apocalypse’ ran over the beleaguered English batting line-up in two sessions to help the visitors claim a memorable 151-run win and a 1-0 lead in the 5-match series.

The beauty of a four or five-match series is that it always gives a side a chance to stage a comeback and India must be wary of a potential England fightback on a ground where the Kohli-led unit has never played a Test.

The familiarity with conditions and the fact that England pulled off a miracle (thanks to Ben Stokes) the last time when they played a Test at Leeds should motivate England. However, having said that, they can certainly do with some runs from batsmen not named Joe Root.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

England:

  • Joe Root: Joe Root- the batsman- can do no wrong at the moment. The champion England batsman scored an imperious 180* at Lord’s during which he broke and created a plethora of records. Root has already scored a couple of tons in this series and given the form of the rest of the batsmen, one can’t help but assume that the 30-year-old will once again have to do all the heavy lifting.
  • As far as Root’s record at Leeds is concerned, the Yorkshireman hasn’t enjoyed the same success like he has on other English grounds. In 12 innings, he has scored 430 runs at an average of 35.83 with three 50s and one hundred.
  • Rory Burns: Rory Burns survived the axe unlike his opening partner Dom Sibley and No.3, Zak Crawley, but it is fair to say that the southpaw’s spot is on a knife edge and he desperately needs a big score under his belt. Burns looked good during his 49 in the first innings of the Lord’s Test but, come Headingley, the opener will have to ensure that he posts a substantial score.
  • Jonny Bairstow: Bairstow has looked in decent touch in this series (scores of 29, 30, 57 and 2). Also, Bairstow has a solid record at Headingley, with 311 runs in five Tests at an average of 44.42.
  • James Anderson: James Anderson picked yet another five-wicket-haul against India in the first innings of the Lord’s Test but it is fair to say that he would like to forget pretty much everything that happened post that.
  • Anderson was peppered with the short pitch stuff relentlessly by Jasprit Bumrah in England’s first innings and after everything that happened post the onslaught, it is fair to say that the veteran pacer will be gunning for a payback at Leeds.
  • Anderson has 39 wickets against his name in 18 innings at Leeds at an average of 27.12 which includes 3 five-fors and 1 ten-for.
  • Ollie Robinson: Robinson is equal with Anderson in terms of most wickets for England in this series (9). The impressive right-arm seamer has taken his wickets at an average of 24.88.

India:

  • KL Rahul: KL Rahul continued his brilliant form at Lord’s as he smashed an imperious 129 to ensure his name went up on the honor’s board. The stylish Indian opener will hope to continue his good form at Leeds.
  • Rohit Sharma: Sharma may have not scored a hundred but it is fair to say that his 83 on the first day of the Lord’s Test and the 126-run-stand with KL Rahul were worth its weight in gold. He once again threw his wicket away in the second innings thanks to his penchant to hook the short ball, something the Indians will hope isn’t the case in the third Test.
  • Virat Kohli: Virat Kohli looked in pristine touch during both of his knocks in the Lord’s Test but his penchant to feel for the deliveries outside the off-stump once again led to his undoing. Will the Indian captain channelize his aggression and return to scoring hundreds in the next Test? We’ll wait and see.
  • Mohammed Siraj: Siraj took yet another giant stride in international cricket with his brilliant performance in the Lord’s Test.
  • Not only did he claim wickets at crucial intervals- especially in the second innings- but the energy and relentless aggression with which he bowled on a placid pitch was something to behold. Can he back it up with yet another impressive showing?
  • Jasprit Bumrah: Bumrah claimed nine wickets in the first Test in Nottingham and he backed it up with yet another brilliant performance at Lord’s- this time with both bat and ball.
  • The champion seamer displayed all his skills to the hilt in the Lord’s Test as he bamboozled the English batters with his nagging line and length, a barrage of bumpers and not to forget, that freak of a slower ball to Ollie Robinson in the dying moments of the Test. His unbeaten 34* and the unbeaten 89* run-stand with Shami was the topping on the cake.

Stats and Facts

  • The last time India played a Test at Leeds – August 2002 – each of their famed trio – Rahul Dravid (148), Sachin Tendulkar (193) and Sourav Ganguly (128) – scored a hundred as the visitors racked up 8-628 in their first innings. Anil Kumble, with seven wickets in the game, did the rest as the Ganguly-led unit notched up an emphatic win by an innings & 46 runs.
  • None of the current Indian players have played a Test match at Leeds.
  • India’s Test record at Leeds: Played 6, Won 2, Lost 3.
  • England’s Test record at Leeds: Played 77, Won 34, Lost 25.
  • India haven’t won two Tests in a series in England since 1986.
  • The last Test at the venue saw Ben Stokes smash an unbeaten 135 against Australia to script a miraculous 1-wicket win for the hosts.

Possible Playing 11

England

England have dropped the out-of-form duo of Dominic Sibley and Zak Crawley from their squad for the 3rd Test and have recalled Dawid Malan.

Ollie Pope has also returned to the squad. Haseeb Hameed is likely to open the innings with Rory Burns with Dawid Malan slotting in at the No.3 spot.

Sam Curran could find himself out of the playing 11 after he endured a poor outing at Lord’s with both bat and ball while Saqib Mahmood could come in place of Mark Wood, who injured his shoulder while fielding during India’s 2nd innings. It will be interesting to see if England beef up their batting stocks by including Ollie Pope or their bowling by bringing in Craig Overton for Sam Curran

England Possible Playing XI: 1. Rory Burns, 2. Haseeb Hameed, 3. Dawid Malan, 4. Joe Root (c), 5. Jonny Bairstow, 6. Jos Buttler (wk), 7. Moeen Ali, 8. Sam Curran/Craig Overton/Jack Leach, 9. Ollie Robinson, 10. Mark Wood/Saqib Mahmood, 11. James Anderson

India

With Ishant Sharma indicating his selection in the 2nd Test, India is unlikely to move away from their 4+1 template, which means Ravichandran Ashwin might have to wait for some more time for his first opportunity in the series.

India Possible Playing XI: 1. Rohit Sharma, 2. KL Rahul, 3. Cheteshwar Pujara, 4. Virat Kohli (c), 5. Ajinkya Rahane, 6. Rishabh Pant (wk), 7. Ravindra Jadeja, 8. Ishant Sharma, 9. Mohammed Shami, 10. Mohammed Siraj, 11. Jasprit Bumrah

Leeds Headingley Pitch Report and Weather Conditions

The pitch at Leeds has been flat in recent times with batting-units regularly notching up scores in excess of 300.

In the ongoing County Championship, the average 1st innings score in the 5 games played at the venue is 362.

The venue generally aids pacers more than spinners. Since the start of 2011, pacers have accounted for 217 wickets in 1988.5 overs at an average of 29.84 while the spinners have managed 53 wickets in 546 overs at 32.13.

Overall, the average 1st innings score at the venue is 307 which drops to 290, 240 and 166 in the succeeding innings.

In 78 Tests played at Headingley, the team batting first has won on 29 occasions while the team fielding first has won on 31 instances.

As far as the weather is concerned, it is expected to be cloudy amid sunny spells with the temperatures ranging between 13-23 degree Celsius.

Fantasy Cricket Predictions

ENG vs IND 3rd Test Dream11 & Fan2Play Prediction

Note: Teams below are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these teams in time after the final playing XIs have been announced.

ENG vs IND 3rd Test Dream11 & Fan2Play Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | ENG vs IND 3rd Test Dream11 Prediction Today | England vs India 3rd Test Key Players | Leeds Pitch Report
ENG vs IND 3rd Test Fan2Play Prediction

ENG vs IND 3rd Test Match Prediction

England have the experience of playing at the venue and they will be hurting after the embarrassing defeat at Lord’s.

That said, India are a much more balanced side as compared to England across all departments and while an English comeback can’t be ruled out, India will go into the Test as firm favorites.

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