Last Updated on 6 years by Charbel Coorey
Please keep me in your thoughts.
Writing prediction pieces is something I really enjoy, but I somehow have to come up with some predictions for this series. I’ve been thinking long and hard about these, and coming to a conclusion has been quite the challenge!
I’ve seen plenty of predictions floating around online, and plenty are different than the other. That’s what makes the upcoming England vs India Test series so exciting. Anything can happen.
India arguably have the best ingredients now to win overseas than they have ever had, but England at home, regardless of their away form, is always a huge challenge, especially over five Tests. A key point to note is that England have not lost a five match Test series at home since 2001, so India, as the number one side, have a big challenge on their hands.
In this cricket opinion piece, I will go through my six predictions for the series and try explain why I think that certain event will happen. Whether you agree or disagree, feel free to leave a comment!
Prediction #1: Leading run scorer – Joe Root (England)
Joe Root, for me, currently sits fourth in the “big four” also comprising of Steve Smith, Virat Kohli and Kane Williamson. Excluding his 58* in Sydney earlier this year, where he retired ill, Root has failed to convert any of his last nine fifties into hundreds. His conversion rate of
less than 25% is too low for a player of his quality.
However, I believe this will be the series where he gets it right. He remains a world class player, and his two hundreds in the recent ODI series will hold him in good stead. He has an excellent record in England (avg. 58.42) and India is his favourite opponent, averaging 68.87 against them in 11 Tests, with three centuries.
I believe he will be the leading run scorer in this series.
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| It’s time for Joe Root to become the dominating batsman he should be |
Prediction #2: Leading wicket taker – James Anderson (England)
This one is a really difficult pick. There is talk that James Anderson and Stuart Broad
will be rotated throughout the series to ensure they stay fresh.
However, which bowler, from either side, screams out as a strong candidate for leading wicket taker? For India, Ishant Sharma will ask questions, but will he take big wickets? Will Umesh Yadav be consistent; or Mohammad Shami fit enough? Will it be a spinner who will surprise us in what’s been warm, dry conditions in the UK?
For me, even with the possibility of being rested throughout the series, James Anderson is my pick.
As an Aussie, I know all too well that Jimmy likes a word or two. He
hasn’t been quiet in the lead up to this series, but he has the ability to back up his words.
Even though conditions have been mostly warm and dry in England, he will still be a major factor in this series. He will test India’s uncertain top order with swing, and has the ability to reverse the ball as well, if there is any on offer.
With Joe Root sure to call on Anderson to bowl plenty of overs, I back him to be in the wickets. He will top the charts.
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| James Anderson did well on very flat Australian pitches in the Ashes |
Prediction #3: Virat Kohli will bury his England demons
It’s been well documented that Virat Kohli had a horror 2014 series, averaging 13.40 across the five Tests.
He was dismissed by James Anderson four times, struggling significantly against the outswinging ball.
However, Virat Kohli is a player that
always works on his game. He focuses brilliantly on the one per-centers. He is
smart and agile enough to know that adjustments always need to be made, and he will prove that he has come so far since the 2014 tour.
I believe he will be India’s leading run scorer, and hit over 400 runs for the series. Big call, but I believe it will come true.
Prediction #4: Either of Shikhar Dhawan or Cheteshwar Pujara won’t play the full five Tests
Two concerns for me.
Shikhar Dhawan and Cheteshwar Pujara are talented batsmen. There is no doubt about it. However, they have struggled overseas, and this was on show in the tour match against Essex.
Shikhar Dhawan averages in the 60s against West Indies, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, but 32 against South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and England. His pair against Essex surely won’t inspire too much confidence, even among Shikhar Dhawan’s biggest supporters.
Cheteshwar Pujara is a curious case. He is patient and loves to bat for long periods of time, but just hasn’t managed to do so outside Asia. His form is very patchy, but I believe India should persist with him for the first Test and back him to play the patience game, with a few adjustments in his technique.
Both could play in the first Test, but it’s very hard to see both of them playing all five given their form and history outside Asia.
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| India don’t want to have to look for a Plan B for Cheteshwar Pujara |
Prediction #5: Selection of Adil Rashid won’t work for England
Adil Rashid’s selection in England’s Test squad has
divided opinion. Lots of people, especially Michael Vaughan, have been scathing towards Ed Smith in selecting Adil Rashid, a player who opted out of red ball cricket. It is a selection decision that has been considered a kick in the teeth of the county game.
Rashid is a good limited overs legspinner. He is a vital cog to England’s World Cup plans.
However, Test cricket is a completely different game. As Afghanistan found out on their Test debut, building pressure in white ball cricket is totally different to building pressure with the red ball, and with Rashid playing his last first class game nearly a year ago, he could be underdone. A Test average of 42,
with all of his Tests played in Asia, doesn’t elicit too much confidence.
Of course, I wish Rashid all the best, but I think he will average over 40 for the series.
Prediction #6: Series result – England 2-2 India
Arguably the toughest prediction to make for this series.
Who will win it? I think the series will be shared.
India now have the best ingredients they have had in years to win overseas, and with conditions warm and dry in the UK, India’s spinners will also have a say. Of course, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah are big misses for the early part of the series, but the likes of Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami and Ravichandran Ashwin will ask enough questions of the England batsmen.
England’s opening combination continues to give them headaches, and their middle order is prone to a collapse now and again. Can India capitalise throughout the series? I think so.
Also, with Virat Kohli primed for a big series, he can be counted on to lead the Indian batting efforts across the Tests. Can he get enough support? I predict he will, especially in the middle order.
However, I believe England won’t lose because India’s top order is a little fragile, and the Poms have the resources to get enough out of the conditions. Also, Joe Root, like Kohli, is primed for a big series, and so too the likes of Alastair Cook, who has a good record v India. Don’t count out Ben Stokes as well, who remains a quality all rounder for England.
With both sides evenly matched in these conditions, I will call a 2-2 series draw.
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So, there we have it!
Which predictions do you think will come true? Let’s discuss!
Thanks for reading!
