Second Test: Can a new-look India level series at Edgbaston?

The ambivalence in the Indian camp ahead of the crucial second Test at Edgbaston from Wednesday — contrary to the mood among the hosts — can be a matter of concern. It’s a crucial Test to stay in the reckoning in the five-match series and that’s where the courage of conviction seems to be lacking among Gautam Gambhir & Co.

It’s not unusual that a demoralising five-wicket defeat at Headingley after the top-order batters had done all the hard work have somewhat rattled the team management. There are reports of India mulling as many as four changes from the playing eleven in the first Test — not quite a good sign — while England, like most winning teams, decided to field an unchanged side on Monday itself.

The suspense over Jasprit Bumrah, despite fielding coach Ryan ten Doeschate insisting that the pace ace is ‘technically available,’ looks like a misplaced one unless India comes up with a real gallant throw of the dice. Akash Deep, the right-arm quick who has shown some controlled hostility while bowling at the nets, is tipped to replace him.

Second Test: Bumrah all but out but India wants to leave England guessing

So far so good, but it seems that India are also inclined to give the left-arm swing of Arshdeep — but at whose expense? If performance is the key, then the profligate Prasiddh Krishna ought to have made way for the Punjab swing bowler, but this effectively means one is virtually going in with a new-look pace attack from first Test, with the exception of Mohammed Siraj.

There is also a growing demand to add a second spinner in addition to Ravindra Jadeja. While former cricketers have urged the team to make room for Kuldeep Yadav as a wicket-taking option rather than falling into the so-called defensive trap of bolstering the batting, one may well see off-spinning allrounder Washington Sundar stepping in to do a Ravi Ashwin in place of seaming allrounder Shardul Thakur.

Last but not the least, there is also a case for Nitish Kumar Reddy, the centurion at Melbourne on debut as the lone seaming allrounder in place of either Sai Sudarshan or Karun Nair. Reddy was part of India’s new-look slip cordon at catching practice at Birmingham, but to include him in place of a pure batter — and possibly end up being under-bowled — does not seem to be a good idea.

Ind-Eng series: Joe Root is having a fun time, and that’s bad news for India

England, on the other hand, has resisted the temptation of throwing in matchwinner Jofra Archer — who made his much anticipated return to the Test squad after four years — into the mix straightaway. Archer last played red-ball cricket for England in 2021 and has since been sidelined by a series of injuries that kept him out of action for a prolonged period.

The 30-year-old recently made a comeback to county cricket just a few weeks ago, where he offered promising signs of regaining his rhythm. His performance was enough to earn him a spot back in the national squad but Stokes will rather go with a pace attack led by an earnest Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue — not heavy on names but those who served him well at the Headingly.

Over then to Edgbaston, Birmingham where one area in which India will not lack is crowd support and the surfeit of tricolours. The big question is: can they make it count and level the series 1-1?  

Catch the match 

England vs India 

Second Test: Edgbaston, Wednesday, 2 July

Match starts at 3.30 pm (IST)