England v India: Three key battles
The visitors are embarking on a new era without heavyweights Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma as they seek to end their 18-year wait for a Test series win in England.
AFP Sport looks at three key battles that could define the series, which comes at the start of a new cycle in the World Test Championship.
Bumrah v England's top order
Jasprit Bumrah can lay claim to being the best all-format bowler in world cricket today, with his Test figures of 205 wickets at under 20 apiece putting the paceman alongside the greats of the game.
But with five gruelling matches to come in less than seven weeks, Bumrah, who suffered a back injury in Australia in January, is unlikely to feature in every game.
Blessed with a unique action and an ability to generate sharp pace off a short run, the 31-year-old is one of the most difficult bowlers for batsmen to face.
He was crowned ICC men's cricketer of the year for 2024 after taking 71 Test wickets at a remarkable average of just 14.92.
Wisden editor Lawrence Booth described Bumrah as "uniquely challenging" as he was named the leading men's cricketer in the world in the 2025 edition.
England's hope is that they can blunt Bumrah, forcing him to bowl more overs than he would like. If they achieve that it might be half the battle won.
Skippers: Stokes v Gill
Shubman Gill would love nothing more than to lead from the front in his first series as India captain.
The 25-year-old, however, has a modest Test batting average of 35 in 32 matches and a paltry average of under 15 in three matches in England.
Gill has a tough task in shaping a new-look side without retired star batsman Kohli and former skipper Rohit as he targets India's fourth series win in England following triumphs in 1971, 1986 and 2007.
He will be pitting his wits against Stokes, who has repeatedly demonstrated a priceless ability to inspire those around him since succeeding Joe Root as England captain in 2022.
But are his superhuman all-round powers waning?
It is now two years since Stokes made the last of his 13 Test hundreds, a remarkable 155 against Australia at Lord's, and he has been dogged by injuries.
However, the 34-year-old remains a threat with his lively medium pace, showing again in last month's Test win against Zimbabwe his enduring ability to take wickets at key times.
Keepers: Smith v Pant
It is increasingly rare for a Test wicketkeeper to be selected purely on the quality of their work behind the stumps, with runs now a major factor.
Nobody better exemplifies this trend than India's Rishabh Pant, who averages just over 42 in 43 matches, with six hundreds, and has the ability to dismantle attacks.
At his sharpest, Pant is capable of spectacular dismissals in the field, although there are occasions when he can appear to lose concentration.
His presence on the field is something of a minor miracle given he was out of the game for 15 months after being seriously injured in a car crash in December 2022.
England 'keeper Jamie Smith, 24, is just 10 Tests into a highly promising international career, averaging a shade under 43 after displacing Surrey teammate Ben Foakes, widely regarded as the superior gloveman.
With England deploying an inexperienced bowling attack, it will be even more important than usual for Smith to take every chance that comes his way.
© 2025 AFP
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
France 24
17 hours ago
- France 24
Australia drop struggling Labuschagne for first West Indies Test
Teenager Sam Konstas and Josh Inglis come into the starting XI for the opening match in Barbados starting on Wednesday. Labuschagne opened the batting in the World Test Championship final loss to South Africa last week but managed scores of only 17 and 22 on a challenging Lord's pitch. His last hundred for Australia in Test matches was in July 2023, against England at Manchester. Since then, Labuschagne has averaged 24.7 with the bat, in 16 matches. "Marnus at his best can be a really important member of this team," chair of selectors George Bailey said. "He understands his output hasn't been at the level we, or he, expects. "We will continue working with him on the areas of his game we feel he needs to rediscover. We continue to value his skill and expect him to work through the challenge positively." Smith injured his finger while fielding in the slips at Lord's. He left the field and did not return, watching South Africa's winning run chase from the pavilion. "Steve needs more time for the wound to heal so we'll give him another week's rest and assess his functionality after that," Bailey said. The 19-year-old Konstas will earn his third cap for Australia, and his first since January. He made a blistering debut against India in December, blasting 60 from just 65 balls opening the batting and playing a number of audacious scoop shots against Jasprit Bumrah. Konstas managed only 53 runs in his next three innings, but the teenager's raw talent has selectors excited. Inglis will also make his third appearance in Test cricket, having made 102 on debut against Sri Lanka in January.
France 24
a day ago
- France 24
Stokes adamant Archer 'desperate' for England return
Archer enjoyed a spectacular start with England in 2019. The Barbados-born fast bowler played a key role in the team's 50-over World Cup final win at Lord's and made his presence felt in a dramatic drawn Ashes series with Australia. For all his undeniable talent, a succession of injury problems have blighted the Sussex speedster's career. Archer played the last of his 13 Tests in February 2021. England have kept faith with Archer. He is due to make his first-class return for Sussex against Durham on Sunday as part of a plan that could see him feature during a five-match series with India that starts at Headingley on Friday. Archer's latest rehabilitation has been delayed by a broken thumb, although that did not stop the 30-year-old pushing for what might have been a rushed return in last month's one-off Test against Zimbabwe. "He's been absolutely desperate to put the white shirt back on," Stokes told a pre-match press conference at Headingley on Thursday. "Randomly, a couple of times, he would just send me a text saying, 'Zim?' "I was like, 'let's just hold it there, all right. I know you're in a good spot right now, but let's not just rush into it'." Stokes added: "He's obviously had a horrific time with injuries, but he's had some good amount of cricket, albeit in the white-ball formats. "It's really exciting for England, but also more exciting for Jof that he's in a position now where we're able to have a plan in place and hopefully him get through something to actually be considered for selection for Test cricket." Express quick Archer's return would be a boost to England's attack as they prepare to face two major rivals over the next seven months, with an Ashes tour of Australia following the India series. Were he to become an Ashes-winning skipper 'Down Under', Stokes would join a select group of England captains, although the all-rounder himself says he is not concerned by his place in cricket history. "Defining a career as England captain isn't something that I sit there and really think about, honestly," he said. "If that's what I'm really bothered about, in my opinion it's just completely and utterly selfish and that ain't me."
France 24
a day ago
- France 24
Mahuchikh, Holloway headline Paris Diamond League
Here, AFP Sport looks at four stand-out disciplines at the eighth meeting of the 15-event Diamond League circuit at the Stade Charlety: Women's high jump Mahuchikh has conquered the world of high jumping at the age of 23. The world and Olympic champion set the current world record of 2.10 metres at last year's Diamond League meet in Paris. It was a jump that erased the legendary world record of 2.09m set by Bulgarian Stefka Kostadinova at the worlds in Rome way back in 1987 "I don't like the world 'pressure'," said the Ukrainian, adding that her coach insisted she focus on herself and jumping technique. "It's so exciting to jump here again after the world record, I want to do my best and give a memory to spectators on Friday." Mahuchikh, looking ahead to the worlds, added: "Every Diamond League and every competition now shows what we did, what we should do better, and get in better shape for the season. "I think something special is coming." Also vying to top the podium will be the Australian pair of Eleanor Patterson and Nicola Olyslagers, a two-time world indoor champion who has won twice in Paris (2021, 2023) and beat Mahuchikh in Stockholm last weekend. Men's 110m hurdles US star Grant Holloway makes his return to the track after flopping in the opening Diamond League meet in China. Holloway finished last after leading for much of his race but losing momentum disastrously after the eighth hurdle. The three-time world champion and Olympic gold medallist trailed across the line in 13.72sec, way behind fellow American Cordell Tinch. "Everybody wants to win every track meet they go to," Holloway said. "But you've got to be able to give and take. "The ultimate goal is definitely the world championships in Tokyo." Back competing, he added, would allow him to "re-evaluate and attack and do the same thing again". Tinch is absent from the French capital, but Holloway will feel the heat from compatriots Trey Cunningham and Freddie Crittenden, Japan's Rashid Muratake, and the French trio of Wilhem Belocian, Just Kwaou-Mathey and Sasha Zhoya. Women's 400m Dominican Republic's Marileidy Paulino tops the field for the women's 400m, and will be up against a strong field including last summer's runner-up, Bahraini Salwa Eid Naser, and Dutch athlete Lieke Klaver. Paulino, gold medallist at last year's Paris Olympics and the 2023 worlds in Budapest, has been the star of the show for the past two years. She won the one-lap race in Paris meets in 2023 and 2024. However, it is Eid Naser, world champion in 2019 and victor at Charlety in 2018, who has set the standard this term thanks to a time of 48.67sec in Kingston. "I believe I can continue to be the star of the show," Paulino said. "I've worked hard to be strong and in track, fans like the show, and between me and Salwa we're capable of putting on a show. "It's been a packed season, preparing for the worlds, that's the focus." Men's 3000m steeplechase Ethiopia's Lamecha Girma lit up the 2023 edition of the Meeting de Paris by smashing the previous world record (7:52.11). There was disaster at the Paris Olympics, however, after Girma fell heavily in the last lap of the Stade de France track. "I'm very happy to be able to come back here," said Girma. "Paris is like my home! "After falling in Paris, the feeling was very bad and my head hurt for a long time. It took some months to return to training. "I'm happy to be healthy and back competing." Morocco's Sofiane El Bakkali is the two-time Olympic steeplechase champion. He will also be at Charlety, but this time around he'll be lining up for the 5,000m, alongside the Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha, who boasts no fewer than 10 Diamond League victories. © 2025 AFP
