The Oval is the venue for the fifth and final test match between England and India, the game gets under way on Thursday and England still lead the series 2-1
It's been a cracking series so far with England winning the first test by 5 wickets and India levelled things up with a 336 run win in the second contest. The third match took place at Lords and England came out on top by 22 runs.
Last week's fourth test at Old Trafford ended in a draw. India posted 358 all out in their first innings with 50's for Jaiswal, Sudersan and Pant (Stokes 5 wickets, Archer 3). England replied with a whopping 669 with Root 150, Stokes 141, Duckett 94 and Crawley 84 doing the damage and Jadeja took 4 wickets. India lost the first 2 wickets of their second innings without scoring a run and at that stage it looked game over. However KL Rahul (90), Shubman Gill (103) and unbeaten tons from Sundar (101) and Jadeja (107) saw India through with stumps finally called with their score on 425/4
This was how the teams lined up at Manchester in the fourth test. Note Pant is out injured with Jagadeesan expected to take the gloves while Jamie Overton had been added to the England squad. .
Update, England skipper Ben Stokes is out through injury
England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Liam Dawson, Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer
India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Anshul Kamboj, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
Series Top Run Scorers
Shubman Gill 4 matches, 8 innings, 722 runs
KL Rahul 4 matches, 8 innings, 511 runs
Rishabh Pant 4 matches, 7 innings, 479 runs
Jadeja 4 matches, 8 innings, 454 runs
Jamie Smith 4 matches, 7 innings, 424 runs
Series Top Wicket Takers
Ben Stokes 4 matches 17 wickets
Mohammed Siraj 4 matches, 14 wickets
Jasprit Bumrah 3 matches, 14 wickets
Akash Deep 2 matches, 11 wickets
Josh Tongue 2 matches, 11 wickets
The Venue, Kennington Oval, London
Over the course of the last decade England have played 9 test matches at this venue, winning 5 and losing 4
In September 2024 Sri Lanka (263 and 219/2) beat England (325 and 156) 8 wickets
In September 2021 India (191 and 466) beat England (290 and 210) by 157 runs
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The Betting
At the time of writing England are 12/10 to win with the draw at 18/10 and India can be backed at 22/10 with Sportingbet
Prices subject to change
The Verdict
I thought England would win at Manchester but they couldn't get the job done and I'm swerving the match result.
Some tired bodies among the quick bowlers in both squads and in England's case it has led to Jamie Overton stepping into the fold. I believe he starts and given he is fresh and hasn't been seen in the series against the Indian batsmen he gets the vote to be top England bowler in the first innings.
On price alone Zak Crawley appeals at top England bat in the first knock
Bets: 1st Innings Top England batsman Zak Crawley at 6.75/1 with Sportingbet
1st Innings Top England Bowler Jamie Overton at 3.75/1 with Sportingbet
Prices subject to change
