England are in India, the first of four test matches gets underway in Chennai on Friday and we take a look at the squads, form and the all important betting.
Let's start with a look at the squads
Virat Kohli, who missed the last 3 tests of the recent tour of Australia, returns for India who will select from the following squad.
India squad: Virat Kohli (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (Vice-captain), KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Wriddhiman Saha (wicket-keeper), R Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Md. Siraj, Shardul Thakur
England rested Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer for their recent tour of Sri Lanka and they return to the fold as part of the following squad.
England: Joe Root (Captain), Jofra Archer, Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Ben Foakes, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes
Recent Test Match Form
India toured Australia in December and January. They lost the first test of a 4 match series by 8 wickets and despite missing Kohli for the remainder of the series they hit back to win the second match, draw the third and win a thrilling decider to take the series 2-1. That was India's first test match action since February 2020 when they lost both test matches in New Zealand. Their most recent home series' came in 2019 and produced clean sweeps of South Africa (3-0) and Bangladesh (2-0).
England have won each of their last 4 test series, most recently beating Sri Lanka away from home in both test matches, by 7 wickets and 5 wickets. In 2020 they came from behind to win a 3 match home series against West Indies (2-1) and they also won another home series against Pakistan, 1-0 with 2 draws. Over Xmas and New Year 2019/20 they won 3-1 in South Africa
Recent Head to Head
The most recent test series between the sides came in England in August / September 2018 and England won the 5 match series 4-1.
England's were last in India in late 2016, the first match of the series was drawn and India won each the next 4 including an innings and 75 run victory in Chennai.
The Betting, 1st Test Match Result
India 4/9
Draw 17/4
England 9/2
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change
The Verdict:
The match results odds illustrate India's dominance on home turf and although England came through a trial by spin to clean sweep Sri Lanka recently they were largely carried by Joe Root.
Root aside I worry about England's top order but the return of Ben Stokes is a huge plus. Stokes has proved he can be patient when circumstances dictate and I take him and his skipper to score a 50 in the first innings.
England's big players will have to come to the party if they are to be competitive and whilst spinners are prominent in the 1st innings top bowler markets an on form Jofra Archer will cause problems on any surface and he gets my vote.
Bets: 1st innings to score a 50, Ben Stokes yes at 15/8
1st innings to score a 50, Joe Root yes at 11/8
Top England bowler 1st innings Archer at 3/1
Sunbet, Claim your 1st deposit bonus of up to R1,000 here
Subscribe to our free weekly betting mailer which will include our best and value bets below.
