IND vs ENG Test Match Pitch Report: The ongoing five-match Test series between India and England is currently stadium at 1-1 after two matches. Until now, we have seen pitches that have supported spin-bowling. But how will the pitches change as we move along in the series? Let’s find out.
IND vs ENG Test Match Pitch Report: #INDvsENG Test Series
The 1st Test was played in Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. Known to be a mixed bag for the most part, the pitch during the match was quite spin-friendly. While it did not deteriorate as spinny tracks do, the Indian team struggled against spin in the th innings, with debutant Tom Hartley taking seven wickets.
The 2nd Test promised to be a little extreme. The pitches of ACA-VDCA Stadium in Vishakhapatnam are known to be a proper dust bowl. The pitches here have historically not only helped spinners but cast a shadow of doom on batters, especially those who do not play spin well.
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While the ball did spin in the 2nd Test, it was by no measure a dusty pitch. While Yashasvi Jaiswal scored a magnificent double-ton here, Jasprit Bumrah was named the Player of the Match for his nine wickets, which included a six-wicket haul in the first inning. While batters did struggle here, it was not only against spin bowling.
IND vs ENG Test Match Pitch Report
The series will now move to a proper batter’s paradise for the 3rd Test. The Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium (aka Khandheri Cricket Stadium) in Rajkot, Gujarat is a haven for batsmen. The ball comes nicely onto the bat here, while the bowlers find it difficult to put up any challenge for the batters.
In order to IND vs ENG Test Match Pitch Report, The ball does not swing too much here, nor does it spin very well. The boundaries here are small too, which might suggest that teams will look to go over the top often in the 3rd Test. The batting-friendly nature of the conditions here might suggest we are headed towards a draw here, but England’s ‘Bazball’ style of play nearly removes that possibility from any match.
The 4th Test will be played in the JSCA International Stadium in Ranchi, Jharkhand. Often, the pitch here provides a strong competition between bat and ball, with spinners ruling the roost with the leather in hand. But more recently, the surfaces have been more batting-friendly here. In the two Test matches played here, Indian batters have dominated the opposition, either resulting in a draw (vs Australia, 2017) or a win (vs South Africa, 2019).
Check Out: IND vs ENG Test Match Pitch Report
It will be another fascinating Test match between India and England here. While traditionally, we would assume that conditions like these provide a clear advantage to India, the 1st Test of the series proved how competitive the Three Lions are.
The 5th and final Test of the series will be played at the picturesque HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala, which was covered in snow as of last week. But the match will be played in March, so the weather should be apt for cricket by then. While the pitches here are batter-friendly on some occasions, mostly, they provide some solid competition between bat and ball.
Despite being one of the smallest grounds in India, Dharamshala is not the sight of regular massive totals, as pace bowlers are kings here. While the most recent ODI here, played between Australia and New Zealand during the 2023 World Cup saw both sides cross the 370 run mark, that was more of an exception here.
With that in mind, it will be yet another competitive Test between the two sides and a fitting end to what is shaping up to be a classic series.
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IND vs ENG Test Match Pitch Report
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