3 Key Battles to watch for in the 3rd Test: The five matches test series between India and England has taken an interesting curve as the players have started getting closer to each other and a real face-off was seen in the previous match.
The series is currently led by India by 1-0 following a record win at Lord’s cricket ground by a massive 151 runs. The third test match will begin on 25th August at Headingley Leeds as India will look to widen the lead, however, England will try to level the series.
The real intense heat amongst the cricketers of the two teams came into the picture in the previous test match and the experts believe that the heat will increase the competitiveness of the match as the series progress.
There has been a lot of chatter ahead of the third test match scheduled at Headingley Leeds. Here are the three key battles to watch for in the 3rd Test match.
3 Key Battles to watch for in the 3rd Test match between England and India at Leeds:
#1. Jasprit Bumrah vs James Anderson:
The red hot face-off of the India vs England test series will be between Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah and English pacer James Anderson. Both the players were seen engaging in a few exchanges during the Lord’s test match. In fact, the second test had a bit of Bumrah versus Anderson moment after the former rattled the latter with a barrage of bouncers.
The same respect and treatments were given to Jasprit Bumrah as well by the English pacer, however, the Indian pacer was a lot better at handling the situation.
The third test is expected to have timely doses of a verbal spat between the two right from day one. More fireworks and intense battles will be there when Bumrah and Anderson face each other at Headingley.
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#2. Virat Kohli vs James Anderson:
The second match-up will be between Indian skipper Virat Kohli and English ace pacer James Anderson. While this time, it will be more of the battle between the bat and ball.
James Anderson has dismissed Kohli six times now in test cricket, including two times on a duck. The pacer recently picked up the Indian skipper for a golden duck in the Nottingham test match.
Virat’s bat has been quiet since 2019 when it comes to scoring a century. He is yet to get to his 71st international ton as he has always fallen short by a few dozen runs. The Headingley Test match may witness some glorious strokeplay from King Kohli as the cricketer look to complete his milestone that has taken a hell lot of time to arrive.
#3. Joe Root vs Ravindra Jadeja:
The third contest will be between England skipper Joe Root and Indian left-arm spin all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. Although Jadeja has had a quiet test series so far with the ball, Root is Jadeja’s one of favourite foes.
He has picked up Root five times in test cricket so far and will look to have another go at the opposing skipper.
With scores of 64, 109, 33 and 180* and 33, Root has been an in-form batter who hasn’t really found himself in any tricky situations as far as this series is concerned. Root has taken out England from difficult situations in the past and is reading the bowler’s mind easily.
If India plays Ravichandran Ashwin in the third test match, he will also have a go at Root. Ashwin has also dismissed Joe Root five times in test cricket.
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