Battered India seek consolation
DRAWING INSPIRATION Kohli & Co look to emulate the 1971 team that scored India’s only Test win at The Oval
— he has lost all four tosses — as batting first will help put pressure on England in the fourth innings.
India though may field leftarm spinner Ravindra Jadeja for the first time in the series, probably at the expense of R Ashwin who struggled in Southampton. In his last Test against England, at Chennai in December 2016, Jadeja took eight wickets in one session to bowl India to victory.
If India pick an extra batsman, and go for uncapped Hanuma Vihari over Karun Nair, he can also bowl off-spin. With Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul struggling, 18-year-old Prithvi Shaw too could be handed his debut, and that will bring players who are fresh.
COOK FAREWELL
England will again look to hit India with pace and spin to give retiring Alastair Cook a victorious farewell. James Anderson needs five scalps to surpass Glenn McGrath’s (563) tally and become Test cricket’s most successful pacer.
England have retained the same eleven that won the fourth Test in Southampton. Jonny Bairstow will again keep wickets after Jos Buttler was entrusted that duty in the fourth day in the light of a finger injury to Bairstow. Like in Southampton, all-rounder Moeen Ali is expected to bat at number three and England captain Joe Root may continue in his favoured position of number four.