The home team England will be squaring up against a spirited Indian team in the 5th and the last Test at the Old Trafford in Manchester. The match will commence on Friday, September 10 at 03:30 PM IST, So stumpsandbails are came up with the prediction  ENG vs IND 2021 5th Test

The long and exhausting tour of England is all set for a grand finish. India came back from the dead in the 4th Test to notch a brilliant win. Twice in the series, they have made stunning comebacks. India have especially run riot on the last day of both their wins. England have pride at stake to play. It can’t get bigger than this!

StumpsandBails looks at how the two teams shape up ahead of the 5th Test:

England’s form:

The home team made a strong comeback in the 3rd Test at Leeds. They bowled India out for 78 in the first innings. The game was as good as over on the first day itself. England dashed any hoped of an Indian comeback on the 4th day picking 8 wickets for 60 runs with the 2nd new ball. They won the toss in the 4th Test and had India on the mat at 127-7. But they let things slip from there. 

England crumbled under pressure on the last day to trail 1-2 in the series. Their bowlers looked wearied in the 2nd innings. The likes of James Anderson and Ollie Robinson would desperately need rest. Mark Wood, Jos Buttler, and Jack Leach may all get a look in to add variety to the bowling lineup. England have a lot of questions to answer going into the 5th Test. But they were in a similar position ahead of the 3rd Test where they registered a resounding win. Hence an England comeback cant be ruled out.

India’s form:

India have already conquered London. They notched up wins in two historic English venues (Lords and The Oval). The fact that they did so when they were behind the game speaks volumes about their character. India conceded the lead on both occasions but emerged victorious on day 5 thanks to their undying spirit. They are on the cusp of something big come the 5th Test. If India manage to stay in the present and play relentless cricket, they could well go on to win a historic series. 

India just have 2 selection questions to answer: Ajinkya Rahane and Ravichandran Ashwin. Rahane’s form has deserted him for quite some time now. The move to send him at number 6 hasn’t worked either. There are calls to replace Rahane with another Mumbai batsman, Suryakumar Yadav. It will be interesting to see if India hands him a debut at Manchester. The exclusion of Ashwin has received widespread outrage. But given India’s combination, it is difficult to play Ashwin in the XI.

ENG vs IND: Favourites?

India look red-hot favourites at this point in time. They are yet to field their best-performing XI as few selection calls have hurt them. But despite those shortcomings, the way the team has performed is nothing short of brilliant. They will look to dominate England in the 5th Test too.

Which players will be match-winners in this game?

Rohit Sharma has arguably been the best batsman in this series in challenging conditions. If he is fit to play the 5th Test, expect an encore from Sharma.

Virat Kohli looked in ominous touch in both the innings at the Oval Test. A big innings is around the corner for the Indian captain.

Joe Root will be hungry to get back to scoring big runs for his team. The moment he stops scoring, England looks pedestrian.

X-factor player:

Jasprit Bumrah changed the game in a matter of 20 minutes on the final day. He will be eager to end the series on a high.

Shardul Thakur’s effervescence has already rubbed on to the Indian team. He might put in another beefy performance come the 5th Test.

Probable Playing XI:

England predicted XI:

Rory Burns, Haseeb Hameed, Dawid Malan, Joe Root (C), Jonny Bairstow, Olli Pope, Jos Buttler, Chris Woakes, Ollie Robinson/Jack Leach, Mark Wood, James Anderson

India predicted XI:

Rohit Sharma/Mayank Agarwal, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (C), Ajinkya Rahane/Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav, Mohammad Siraj/Mohammad Shami, Jasprit Bumrah

What do stats say about ENG vs IND 2021 5th Test?

England and India have clashed against each other 130 times in test matches. England has won 49 games while India has won on 31 occasions. 50 Tests have ended in a draw. India have played 9 matches at Manchester but have won none up until now.

Pitch:

The Old Trafford pitch in Manchester is probably the quickest wicket in England. It has something in it for everyone. The bounce will aid seamers and spinners alike. Batters will get true value for their runs if they settle in. The pitch will favour the fast bowlers initially with spin likely to dominate on day 4 and day 5.

Ground stats:

The iconic venue has hosted 82 Tests. Teams batting first have won 32 times while teams bowling first have won on 15 occasions. 

We look at the average scores in all 4 innings of a Test at Manchester:

First innings: 335

Second innings: 268

Third innings: 227

Fourth innings: 168

Weather Report:

The weather isn’t promising for the 5th and final Test. Manchester is notorious for its bad weather. Rain is predicted for all days except day 3 and day 4. The scattered showers will make their presence felt on all the other 3 days. 

StumpsandBails verdict:

England will be keen to end the series on a high and achieving parity. But this Indian team is hungry for overseas success. They won’t make it any easy for them. India start strong favourites!