The Indian team, under the captaincy of Shubman Gill, faced defeat at the hands of England in the first match of the five-match Test series, which will undoubtedly put pressure on the team.
Sports News: The second match of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, a series of five Test matches between India and England, is set to begin on July 2nd at Edgbaston, Birmingham. Shubman Gill, leading the Indian team, will face a tough test, as Team India trails 0-1 in the series after losing the first Test. Thus, the pressure to win the Edgbaston Test and level the series is clearly visible. But the biggest question is – to what extent will the Edgbaston pitch be helpful for the Indian team?
How will the Edgbaston pitch behave?
Edgbaston, Birmingham, has always been known for pitches that favor fast bowlers. The pitch here is considered balanced, meaning the first two days provide bounce and seam movement for fast bowlers, while the pitch becomes easier for batsmen as the match progresses. July in Edgbaston often sees overcast conditions, which gives the Dukes ball extra swing. This poses a significant challenge to the top-order batsmen in the early sessions. There is also a trend of 3-4 wickets falling in the first session on this ground.
On the third and fourth days, the pitch starts to flatten, and batsmen find it easier to score runs. However, on the fifth day, cracks and wear and tear on the pitch increase, which gives spin bowlers turn. This is why the outcome of the match often depends on this changing nature of the pitch.
Average Scores at Edgbaston
- First innings: Approximately 310 runs
- Second innings: Approximately 280 runs
- Third innings: 230–250 runs
- Fourth innings: 170–200 runs
India's History at Edgbaston
Edgbaston has never been a "lucky" venue for the Indian team. Team India has played 8 Test matches against England here so far, losing 7 and drawing 1 in 1986. That means a win is yet to be recorded. In this respect, the pressure on Team India, under the captaincy of Shubman Gill, to break the record will be clearly visible. Performance of Indian batsmen at Edgbaston:
- Virat Kohli — 2 matches, 231 runs
- Sunil Gavaskar — 3 matches, 216 runs
- Rishabh Pant — 1 match, 203 runs
- Sachin Tendulkar — 2 matches, 187 runs
- Gundappa Viswanath — 2 matches, 182 runs
- MS Dhoni — 1 match, 151 runs
- Ravindra Jadeja — 1 match, 127 runs
Highest and Lowest Scores at Edgbaston
Highest Score: England scored 710 runs against India in 2011.
Lowest Score: South Africa scored 250 runs against England in 1929, which is the lowest Test score on this ground to date.
What to expect at Edgbaston this time?
According to the weather department, there will be light clouds on the first two days of the Edgbaston Test, which will help the fast bowlers. India has bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Ravindra Jadeja who can take advantage of these conditions. In batting, Shubman Gill himself will take on a big responsibility, while runs will also be needed from batsmen like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, and Shreyas Iyer.
On the other hand, the England team will be full of confidence in their home conditions. Bowlers like James Anderson and Ollie Robinson are ready to test the Indian batsmen.
What could be the strategy for Team India?
- Top order to play cautiously in the first two days
- Try to dismiss England's first innings quickly
- Opportunity to play big shots on the third day
- Creating pressure on the wickets for spinners on the fifth day
The challenge at Edgbaston for India is not only about the pitch but also psychological because the winless streak here continues. Under the captaincy of Shubman Gill, Team India will get a golden opportunity to change history, but for that, they will have to show aggressive and strategic cricket from the first day itself.
