ENG Vs IND: Top 5 Key Battles To Watch For In The Fourth Test Ft. Harry Brook Vs Jasprit Bumrah

The inaugural Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy has lived up to its lofty billing, offering fans across the globe a cricketing spectacle defined by see-sawing momentum, gritty individual brilliance, and fierce national pride. As the five-match Test series moves into its penultimate chapter at Old Trafford, Manchester, the scenario couldn’t be more dramatic: England lead 2-1, and India face a must-win situation to stay alive in the series. The match, starting July 23, is not just a Test—it’s a virtual final for Shubman Gill’s side.

From Headingley to Edgbaston to Lord’s, the series has produced moments that will go down in modern Test folklore. England, under Ben Stokes, struck first at Leeds, India bounced back with a thunderous win at Birmingham, and Lord’s hosted an instant classic, with England eking out a thrilling 22-run win. And now, as the attention turns to Old Trafford, it’s about legacy, redemption, and perhaps most pressingly for India—breaking a 92-year curse at this venue.

Setting the Stage: Old Trafford, The Jinxed Fortress

India’s Test record at Old Trafford is sobering:

Played: 9
Won: 0
Lost: 4
Drawn: 5

The Manchester venue has historically favoured England, with pace and bounce aiding seamers early and spinners later. While India have often arrived with hope, they’ve repeatedly left empty-handed. The average first innings score here is 331, plummeting to 169 in the fourth innings—a statistic that will undoubtedly play into team strategies, particularly at the toss.

The last time India played at Old Trafford was in 2021, when the final Test of the series was controversially cancelled due to COVID-19. This time, the stakes are crystal clear—win or relinquish the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.

Injury-Hit India: Crisis or Opportunity?

If India’s challenge wasn’t steep enough already, their squad is dealing with a brutal spate of injuries:

Nitish Kumar Reddy: Ruled out with a knee injury.
Akash Deep: Not fully recovered from a groin strain.
Arshdeep Singh: Unavailable due to a thumb injury.
Rishabh Pant: Nursing a finger injury, may only play as a specialist batter.

These absences have forced selectors to draft uncapped pacer Anshul Kamboj, while Dhruv Jurel may step in behind the stumps if Pant cannot keep.

Despite the personnel crisis, India can draw confidence from their 336-run victory at Edgbaston, where Akash Deep’s 10-wicket match haul tore through England’s middle order. In Gill, Jaiswal, Jadeja, and Bumrah, India still possess a core capable of toppling any opposition—provided they deliver in unison.

England: Dawson Returns, Archer Sparks Fire

England too have had to make a change, albeit more strategic than forced. Shoaib Bashir—impressive at Lord’s—suffered a finger fracture, opening the door for a nostalgic return: Liam Dawson, last seen in whites in 2017, is back.

Dawson not only strengthens the spin department but brings lower-order resilience, having averaged 26.75 in his brief Test career. His inclusion could prove vital in a match where batting depth and spin support might decide tight sessions.

The big gain for England has been Jofra Archer’s return. Clocking speeds north of 145 km/h and swinging it late, Archer has added the venom England missed during his long injury layoff.

Top 5 Battles to Watch in Manchester

As much as the team contest matters, Test matches are often decided by key individual duels. The 4th Test promises a handful of mouth-watering matchups that could swing momentum either way.

Shubman Gill vs Brydon Carse

Runs are power, but so is memory.

Indian skipper Shubman Gill has been in imperious form, amassing 607 runs at 101.16, including a glorious 269, and two more tons (147, 161). But even the best have nemeses. Enter Brydon Carse, England’s quietly effective enforcer.

Though Carse’s overall numbers (9 wickets at 48.11) aren’t eye-catching, his success against Gill—twice dismissing him for 8 and 6—makes this duel a crucial subplot. Carse’s ability to move the ball off the seam and bowl tight lines could disrupt India’s engine room early.

🧠 Gill’s mission? Convert purple patches into pressure-proof knocks. Carse’s goal? Dent India early, rattle the crown.

Yashasvi Jaiswal vs Jofra Archer

Speed meets fearlessness.

Jaiswal, India’s aggressive southpaw, has been a mixed bag—233 runs at 38.83, but often falling trying to impose himself too early. Jofra Archer, meanwhile, has already dismissed him once and has clearly unsettled the youngster with his steep bounce and late movement.

If Jaiswal can weather the new-ball storm, he could lay a platform for a big Indian score. But if Archer gets into rhythm, it could be a repeat of Lord’s—where Jaiswal fell for 12, flashing at wide ones.

🎯 Expect fireworks if these two meet in the opening overs.

Harry Brook vs Jasprit Bumrah

Middle-order backbone vs strike weaponry.

Harry Brook, with 314 runs at 52.33, has emerged as England’s lynchpin in the middle. But facing Jasprit Bumrah—India’s most lethal weapon—is another challenge entirely. Bumrah, who has taken 12 wickets at 21.00, has dismissed Brook once already.

Brook’s counterattacking style suits England’s Bazball approach, but against Bumrah’s reverse swing and pinpoint yorkers, timing the counter-attack is tricky. Bumrah thrives on pressure, and Brook thrives under it. This is a battle of nerve and nuance.

🔥 Whichever way this duel tips, expect it to turn the tide of a session.

Joe Root vs Ravindra Jadeja

Grace vs guile.

Few battles in modern cricket are as nuanced as Joe Root vs Ravindra Jadeja. Root’s silky strokeplay against Jadeja’s left-arm spin and tight control is a mental chess match in itself.

Root has piled up 253 runs at 50.60, including a sublime 104 at Lord’s. Jadeja has struggled with the ball—just 3 wickets at 110.33—but has been crucial with the bat, scoring 327 runs at 54.50.

While Jadeja hasn’t dismissed Root this series, he has in the past, and as the pitch breaks down, his subtle variations could trap the English maestro.

♟️ If Jadeja can get Root, India might wrest back the middle overs.

Ben Duckett vs Mohammed Siraj

Intent meets intensity.

Ben Duckett has embraced England’s aggressive blueprint, scoring 271 runs at 45.16. But his Achilles’ heel might just be Mohammed Siraj, who’s been all fire and fury, with 13 wickets at 32.00.

Their most memorable exchange came at Lord’s, where Siraj dismissed Duckett for 12, and then unleashed a verbal send-off that lit up social media. Expect more of that heat as Duckett looks to unsettle India early, and Siraj seeks vengeance through wickets.

💥 The opening 10 overs may set the tone—especially if this duel flares again.

Matchday Metrics: What the Stats Say

Old Trafford Test Stats:

Total Tests: 86
Matches won batting first: 32
Matches won bowling first: 17
Highest total: 656/8 (AUS vs ENG)
Lowest total: 58/10 (IND vs ENG)
Avg 1st innings score: 331
Avg 4th innings score: 169

Clearly, batting first gives a slight edge—but collapses in later innings are not uncommon. Spinners tend to become more influential post-Day 3, putting Jadeja and Dawson in the spotlight.

X-Factors & Final Thoughts

India’s middle order must step up. While Gill and Jadeja have scored bulk runs, others like Jaiswal and Iyer must convert starts.
England’s tail, boosted by Dawson, could be the difference in a close contest.
Weather in Manchester is expected to be partly cloudy—swing bowlers could get assistance.

Prediction: Virtual Final, Real Pressure

This is not just a Test match. It’s a defining contest in a fledgling rivalry now officially named after two legends—James Anderson and Sachin Tendulkar.

England, with a slight edge at home, and India, hungry and bruised, will leave everything on the field. Expect twists, tempers, and tenacity in this clash at the Theatre of (Test) Dreams.

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