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The upcoming fourth Test match between England and India at Old Trafford in Manchester is poised to be a pivotal and do-or-die encounter for the Indian team, who currently find themselves trailing 2-1 in the five-match series. This crucial fixture is scheduled to commence on Wednesday, July 23 and will undoubtedly test the resilience and strategic acumen of both sides.
Anderson-Tendulkar Test series context and historical hurdles in Manchester
India will this contest under immense pressure, having suffered a 22-run defeat in the third Test at Lord’s, which left them behind by a 2-1 margin. The historical context of Old Trafford further amplifies the challenge for the visitors. In their nine previous red-ball attempts at this venue, India have faced four defeats and, remarkably, is yet to secure a single victory. Their record at Old Trafford includes five draws and four losses, with their last encounter here in 2014 resulting in a humiliating defeat under the captaincy of MS Dhoni.
For India, the playing conditions at Old Trafford are compounded by a series of unfortunate injury blows within their squad. All-rounder Nitish Reddy has been definitively ruled out for the rest of the series due to a left knee injury, a significant loss to their team balance as he will fly back home for rehabilitation. Adding to their woes, Arshdeep Singh, the promising left-arm pacer, has been ruled out of the fourth Test after sustaining an impact injury to his left thumb while bowling in the nets at a training session in Beckenham. While Akash Deep‘s fitness for the fourth game was reportedly doubtful due to a recurring back issue, the confirmed injuries to Reddy and Arshdeep are major setbacks.
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First look at Manchester Pitch ahead of 4th ENG vs IND Test
The first look of pitch for the upcoming fourth Test between England and India at Old Trafford in Manchester has been revealed, and it appeared to be leaning towards being a green top with a damp outfield, rather than being purely damp. This green top, combined with the fact that the outfield is quite damp due to consistent rainfall over the past few days, strongly indicates that the ball will be expected to swing and seam considerably. These conditions are ideal for fast bowlers, especially under the anticipated overcast skies that are common in Manchester.
The dampness in the outfield could also affect fielding, potentially slowing down the ball and requiring fielders to be exceptionally sharp. While Old Trafford has historically been known for pace and bounce, some recent assessments suggest that first-class pitches there in the last year or two have been slower and flatter. However, the current visual evidence of a green top combined with the dampness points towards significant assistance for quicks, making early breakthroughs crucial and batting a tough proposition, particularly in the initial sessions. The overall consensus is that the pitch could offer a lively contest between bat and ball, with pace and swing bowlers likely to dominate proceedings.
