Manchester's famous Old Trafford Stadium will host the fourth Test match of India vs. England in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. India comes into the game in a must-win position because England leads the series 2-1, but the hosts will try to finish the series with momentum..
Steve Harmison Predicts Slow Surface, Calls for Rain in Manchester
Former England pacer Steve Harmison shared his first impressions of the Old Trafford pitch ahead of the crucial Test. He expects a slower surface and is hoping for some rain in Manchester to help bring some life into the conditions.
“Old Trafford, if it is going to rain anywhere and it hasn’t rained in England for about three months, if it is going to rain anywhere, it will be Manchester as it always does. We could do with some rain because we could do with some lively surface,” Steve Harmsion said on ESPNcricinfo.
He noted that over the last 18 to 24 months, first-class pitches at Old Trafford have lost their pace and bounce.
“They aren’t like they were 10 or 15 years ago. They used to be bouncy, hard, and offered reverse swing. Now they’re very similar slow and flat,” he explained.
Old Trafford May Favour Two Spinners, Says Harmison
Harmison also hinted that spin could play a bigger role in Manchester and suggested that teams might consider fielding two spinners.
India currently features Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, though recent reports suggest Kuldeep Yadav may replace injured Nitish Kumar Reddy, depending on conditions. England, on the other hand, is expected to stick with one spinner, Liam Dawson, who came in as a replacement for the injured Shoaib Bashir.
“If there’s a chance to play two spinners, Manchester might be the place. England won’t, since they have Liam Dawson. I think the pitch will be similar to Edgbaston and Lord’s—one that breaks up as the game progresses and probably turns. But I don’t see much pace or bounce in it. It could turn out to be a low-scoring affair,” Harmison added.
In light of Harmison's observations, the surface at Old Trafford is anticipated to be slower, providing spinners with greater support. As the match progresses, the conditions may become more spin-friendly, making batting comparatively easier on Days 1 and 2.
Indian squad
Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant (VC & WK), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Kuldeep Yadav, Anshul Kamboj.
England squad:
Ben Stokes (Captain), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes.
