Analysis
Four players who could decide India’s summer in England
A five-Test series rarely turns on one moment, but it often turns on a handful of players. These are the four we will be watching most closely.
By CricRadio Analysis
India have not won a Test series in England for almost two decades, and the reasons have rarely changed: a top order that struggles against the moving ball in early summer, and an attack that tires by the fourth Test. This squad looks better equipped on both counts, but five Tests in seven weeks leave little room for error.
Expect high scores at The Oval and Edgbaston, and lower, scrappier matches at Lord’s and Headingley if the weather behaves as it usually does in June.
Arjun Mehra, India
Top-order batter · 612 runs at 61.2 in his last six Tests
Mehra’s strength is patience. On his last tour he left more balls outside off stump than any other top-order batter, and he scored two hundreds once the pitches flattened out.
Strength: judgement outside off stump against the new ball
Watch for: the full, swinging delivery early in his innings
Ishaan Varma, India
Fast bowler · 34 wickets at 21 in his last seven Tests
Varma hits the deck harder than anyone in India’s squad, regularly above 140kph, and takes his wickets with seam movement rather than swing, which travels well in England.
Strength: hard length and late seam movement
Watch for: workload; he has never played more than three Tests in a row
Ishaan makes the batter play at deliveries they would leave from anyone else. That is rare in a young fast bowler.
— India bowling coach
Oliver Penrose, England
Penrose has turned himself from a stop-gap opener into England’s most consistent batter. He scores quickly for a Test opener, at a strike rate of 68, and has a habit of taking the shine off the new ball before the middle order arrives. His record against high-quality pace is the one gap in his CV, and India’s short-ball plan will test it early.
Sam Whitlock, England
Off-spinner · 41 wickets at 26 in county cricket last season
England’s likely spinner bowls a heavy ball with a high release, and he will matter more than usual if the series reaches The Oval with India batting last.
| Player | Team | Role | Last 6 Tests | Key number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arjun Mehra | India | Batter | 612 runs at 61.2 | 2 hundreds |
| Ishaan Varma | India | Fast bowler | 28 wickets at 20.4 | 4 five-fors |
| Oliver Penrose | England | Opening batter | 541 runs at 54.1 | SR 68 |
| Sam Whitlock | England | Off-spinner | 17 wickets at 29.6 | Econ 2.9 |
Build-up in pictures
The first Test begins at Headingley on Friday. If Mehra survives the new ball, Varma stays fit and Penrose is kept quiet at the top, India have a genuine chance of ending their long wait.
