India and England aim to return to winning ways in Test cricket as the first Test starts in Trent Bridge, Nottingham on Wednesday. Catch all the live updates here (Scorecard):
England captain Alastair Cook (L) and India captain MS Dhoni pose for pictures with the trophy following team practice sessions at Trent Bridge in Nottingham in central England, on July 8, 2014, ahead of the first cricket Test match between the two countries beginning on July 9 at Trent Bridge.
© AFP
India lost their last two series in South Africa and New Zealand 1-0. Their 2011 trip to England ended in a 4-0 whitewash defeat but following the retirement of greats like Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, now a mentor to the national team, there is a fresh look to the side. (India vs England:Top Stats and Approaching Milestones)
England aim to avoid a third consecutive series defeat and ease the pressure on captain Alastair Cook. Following the embarrassing 5-0 Ashes defeat in Australia at the start of the year, Andy Flower was replaced as coach by Peter Moores and controversial batsman Kevin Pietersen had his central contract terminated.
Hopes of a winning start to the new era were dashed on the penultimate ball of the second and final Test against Sri Lanka in Leeds last month, with James Anderson's late dismissal condemning England to a 1-0 series defeat.
That reverse has intensified the pressure on opening batsman Cook, who has not reached three figures in 24 Test innings and publicly lashed out at one of his chief critics, former Australia great Shane Warne, last month. The Sri Lanka series was not without hope for England with newcomers Moeen Ali, Sam Robson and Gary Ballance scoring maiden Test centuries.
England's captain Alastair Cook talks on a phone while waiting for a training session before the Test Against India at Trent Bridge.
© Reuters
Chris Jordan and Liam Plunkett also showed flashes of aggression with the ball while Root notched a double ton with the bat. Ben Stokes has been recalled to a 13-man squad that features six fast bowling options, an acknowledgement perhaps that Anderson and Stuart Broad appeared leg weary at times against Sri Lanka.
India have rookie unit under skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni. While the batting looks quite strong on paper, the bowlers must take 20 wickets to push the home team. Only one bowler, Ishant Sharma, has previously played a Test in England.
The lanky right-armer will be expected to lead by example alongside the less-experienced Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami, who have a dozen caps between them, with the seamers likely to be the main wicket-taking threat on pitches unlikely to help the spinners.
Ishant Sharma warms up at as Team India prepare ahead of their first Test vs England at Trent Bridge.
© AFP
In Virat Kohli, India have one of the most stylish batsmen of this generation who, at 25, is already a leader in the squad, while number three Cheteshwar Pujara averages close to 60 and spent three valuable hours at the crease in a warm-up match against Derbyshire.
Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan play a bit of football to keep fit ahead of the first Test vs England
© AFP
The five-Test series will be played without the aid of the decision review system, with India again refusing to agree to its use.
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