England v India fifth Test preview: England look to continue winning ways

Over nine months on from the original date, England face India at Edgbaston in the fifth and final Test of the series, with England’s recent change of guard and upturn in form making them confident of levelling the series.

This series provided some highly entertaining Test cricket in the first four matches before it was cut short due to a Covid-19 outbreak. With England’s new brand of big hitting, fast scoring, aggressive bowling Test cricket we only expect the entertainment to continue.

Will England’s new attitude towards Test cricket see them save a series draw against India?

The squads

England’s new test era under the leadership of Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes got off to a flyer as they completed a 3-0 series win over New Zealand on Monday. There is just one change to the squad as Sam Billings replaces Ben Foakes as wicketkeeper after Foakes tested positive for Covid 19 before the final two days of the third Test against New Zealand, where Billings stood in for him.

Joe Root was England’s top run scorer in the series against New Zealand with 396 runs in his six innings. This sees him head into the match against India as the 2/1 favourite to be his side’s top run scorer in the first innings.

Jonny Bairstow was just short of his fellow Yorkshireman as he finished the series with 394 and is the second favourite to be England’s top batsman in the first innings at 4/1.

Matthew Pots remains in the squad after being the top wicket taker in his debut series with 14 wickets. He is third favourite to be England’s top bowler in the first innings at 11/4. England’s veteran seamers James Anderson and Stuart Broad are favourites to be England’s top bowlers in the first innings at 2/1 and 9/4 respectively.

India have a star studded squad with the most notable being batsman Virat Kohli. Kohli has struggled for form in the past couple of years but his reputation speaks for itself. Searching for his first Test century since 2019, Kohli is 11/4 favourite to be India’s top batter in the first innings.

Seam bowler Jasprit Bumrah is expected to lead the Indian bowling attack and is the 9/4 favourite to be his side’s top bowler in the first innings.

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New-look England the favourites

England have looked infinitely more exciting and confident since McCullum and Stokes took the leadership roles and their recent good form sees them come into the fifth test as 10/11 favourites to win the match and tie the series.

With the rain set to stay well away from Edgbaston for this test match and England’s new style of quick scoring, win chasing batting, a draw looks unlikely at 15/4.

Despite having a 2-1 lead in the series India head into the match as the 21/10 underdogs but will be hoping to bring the positive mood in the England camp to a halt and clinch the series victory.

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