Data Shows India Struggles Most When the Ball Swings Less in England: A Stats Feature
A new era for Indian Test cricket begins on June 20, when the side starts its five-match series against England in Leeds.
For a new-look Indian batting order, now without the experience of the recently retired Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, English conditions will present a stern examination.
Newly appointed captain Shubman Gill and his fellow batters will have their techniques tested by the moving ball in England's swing-friendly environment.
Swing has long been a defining feature of Test cricket in England. This is enabled by the country's near-perpetual overcast skies, the generally lush and unabrasive outfields, and the firm nature of its pitches.
These factors combine to ensure that swing persists throughout a Test match and is more pronounced on average than in any other SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia) country.
Notably, swing in England tends to remain consistent regardless of ball age. The red cherry continues to move more in the air across innings than it typically does elsewhere in the SENA group.
This phenomenon is further amplified by the use of the Dukes ball. Its pronounced seam and greater durability allow for more sustained and pronounced movement in the air.
Conversely, reverse swing is relatively rare in England. The milder weather and softer outfields reduce the chances of the ball scuffing up enough to reverse appreciably.
For Indian batters, who have grown up playing in conditions far less conducive to swing, the English question has long been a perplexing one. India's top-order batters have averaged just 30.31 in England across 121 Tests since 1932 — their second-lowest return in any country, ahead of only South Africa (28.88).
While Indian batting began to improve in England in the 1970s and peaked in the 2000s, the trend has reversed in recent times.
Since 2010, India has played 23 Tests in England — across four bilateral series and two World Test Championship finals. In these matches, its top-order average has slumped to 28.69 — only four teams have fared worse in that span. It is also India's third-lowest average in any country during this period.
Interestingly, India's struggles are more pronounced when the ball swings less.
Since 2010, Indian top-seven batters in England average just 25.23 when the ball swings under 0.75° — only West Indies has done worse. India's averages remain subpar even in higher swing brackets (0.75–1.50° and 1.50–2.25°).
Virat Kohli summed up the challenge of batting in England during the 2021 series:
'You can never say in England that now you are set. You have to put your ego in your pocket. You need good decision-making because conditions in England are the toughest in the world, in my opinion.' Kohli's own journey in England was marked by extremes. In 2014, he averaged just 13.40 across five Tests. Four years later, he bounced back with a superb 593-run series, including two centuries and three fifties.
That turnaround, Kohli said, came from understanding that batting in England demands sustained focus:
'The conditions are not like in other places where, once you reach 30 or 40, you can start picking balls to hit. In England, you have to bat the way you did for your first 30 runs and repeat the same template for as long as possible.
This discipline and patience are essential. If you're not patient in England, you can get out at any time — regardless of your experience or the number of runs you have.'
While this advice is sound in theory, executing it is far from easy — especially for a largely inexperienced Indian line-up in 2025. Yashasvi Jaiswal, Karun Nair, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Sai Sudharsan, Dhruv Jurel, Abhimanyu Easwaran, and Washington Sundar are all yet to play a Test in England.
One small consolation for the visitor is the absence of England's legendary swing duo — James Anderson and Stuart Broad. The pair has taken a combined 169 wickets against India at home, at an average of just 23.41.
Even so, for Gill and company, this series promises to be as tough a baptism as Test cricket gets.
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