The final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy between England and India at the Kennington Oval in London faces a significant threat from adverse weather conditions. With England leading the series 2-1, India needs a win to level the series. However, the weather forecast predicts rain and thunderstorms throughout the match, potentially disrupting play.
According to the latest weather updates, there's a high chance of rain on all five days of the Test, with the first two days particularly at risk. Accuweather.com indicates a very high probability of rain on Day 1, along with a chance of thunderstorms. The UK Met Office has also issued a yellow warning for thunderstorms on Thursday. These conditions could delay the toss and interrupt play. The temperature is expected to range between 14°C and 24°C, with high humidity levels, creating ideal conditions for swing bowlers. Cloud cover is expected to remain high, with consistent drizzle and wind speeds potentially reaching 13 km/h.
The gloomy weather could significantly impact team selections, although England has already announced their playing XI. England has made four changes to their side, with Ben Stokes ruled out due to a shoulder injury. Ollie Pope will captain the side in Stokes' absence. Jacob Bethell will replace Stokes, while Gus Atkinson, Jamie Overton, and Josh Tongue come in for Jofra Archer, Liam Dawson, and Brydon Carse, respectively.
India, on the other hand, has a few selection headaches. Jasprit Bumrah is likely to be rested as part of workload management. Shubman Gill remained tight-lipped about Bumrah's inclusion in the pre-match press conference, stating that a final decision would be made after assessing the conditions. Akash Deep is likely to replace Bumrah in the playing XI. There is also speculation about Arshdeep Singh potentially making his Test debut. The team management might consider playing an extra batsman, with Karun Nair in contention to replace Shardul Thakur. With Kuldeep Yadav unlikely to feature, the team may bolster their batting lineup. Dhruv Jurel is set to replace Rishabh Pant as wicket-keeper.
The Oval pitch is expected to favor seamers, with a visible green tinge. Although some grass may be trimmed before the start of play, the pitch is likely to offer early movement for the bowlers. Historically, The Oval has provided a balanced contest between bat and ball, but recent matches have seen bowlers dominating. Since 2019, the average score across all four innings has remained under 300, indicating assistance for both pace and spin as the match progresses.
India will aim to carry the momentum from their comeback in Manchester, where centuries from Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar helped secure a draw. England, however, will look to capitalize on their series lead and secure a victory on home soil. The weather, team composition, and pitch conditions will all play crucial roles in determining the outcome of this highly anticipated Test match.
