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India and England Engage Into Dog Fight At Ahmedabad From Today 

Saleque Sufi | banglanews24.com
Update: 2021-02-24 12:59:06
India and England Engage Into Dog Fight At Ahmedabad From Today 

The all-important day night pink ball test match between third ranked India and fourth ranked England starts at the refurbished largest Sardar Patel Cricket Stadium Ahmedament from today. The four matches test series stays at 1-1. England shocked India in the first test winning by a huge margin at Chennai, India bounced back in the same venue few days later winning by similar huge version. 

We are aware that New Zealand by default has already qualified for the ICC World Cup final scheduled to be held at Lords in June 2021. The top ranked Australia lost its opportunity for qualifying following the suspension of the test series against South Africa for outbreak of the new variant of COVID. The team winning the Ahmedabad test would be favorably placed for playing at Lords. 

We are aware that England is relatively better exposed to SG pink ball day night cricket match. Pink ball for its special, manufacturing specially coating retains shine longer. It helps prodigious swing and seam movement. Archer, Wood, Woakes, Anderson and Broad are better exponents of swing than Bumrah, Ishant, Yadab and Siraj. India has played only two-day night tests so far. One against much weaker opponent Bangladesh at Eden Gardens and the other against strong Australia at Adelaide Oval. India rocked and rolled Bangladesh at Eden Gardens. We all know that India was crushed to their lowest ever test innings of 36 in the second innings. What happened at Adelaide Oval was once in a millennium event. Cummins and Hazelwood were irresistible. India got over it and definitely learned lessons from Adelaide. India’s strength must not be viewed from one innings only as they proved subsequently in winning the test series even with their reserve bench in Australia. India also bounced back amazingly in the current series in the second test after losing heavily in the first test.

Ahmedabad refurbished stadium is going to be the largest cricket venue having a capacity of 120,000. The picturesque ground will have modern LED lights for providing better visibility at dusk and in the evening. The swing of Pink ball depends mainly on the duration of shine. This depends on grass left on the wicket and the outfield. We are sure that Indian curator would leave much grass on the wicket and the outfield. Bare wicket can still favor superior spin attack of India. Whatever happens this do or die contest between the two evenly matched teams is expected to witness mouth-watering contest. 

Probable Teams:
India: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Chetesswar Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ajinka Rahane, Rishav Pant, Ravichandra Ashwin, Axar Patel, Ishant Patel, Umesh Yadab and Jasprit Bumrah. 

England: Dom Sibley, Zak Crawley, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Oilie Pope, Ben Foakes, Mark Wood/ Chris Woakes, Jofra Archer, Jack Leach and James Anderson. 

If the wicket retains grass Wood, Archer and Anderson would exploit the condition much better than Bumrah, Yadab and Ishant at least over the first two days. In such situation toss will be a huge factor. But whatever be the case Indian wickets would ultimately favour turn and Ashwin, Axar would have upper hand. The team winning will move ahead 2-1. The final test not day and night would be held in the same venue. A 2-2 drawn series would make Australia automatically qualifying. England needs 3-1 series win. Series win by any margin would be enough for India going ahead. 

We are sure the cricket world would be glued to the electronic media coverage of this historic test in the largest test venue. Let the better team win. 

BDST: 1258 HRS, FEB 24, 2021
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