All you need to know about the fifth India-England Test in Chennai

India may have sealed the 5-match series but they would want to end it on a high by making it 4-0. Despite this Test being a dead rubber, it has all the makings of a fascinating contest with the embroiling friction between the two teams adding spice to the proceedings.

More so will be the return of Test cricket to Chennai after more than three years. However, Cyclone Vardah has hogged all the limelight leading up to the match and the relevant authorities are now working tirelessly to ensure that everything is in order. So far, the signs are veering towards the optimistic side as the pitch and the outfield seems to have escaped nature’s fury.

Let us now take a look at five of the most pertinent factors hovering over the final Test of the series.

#5 Captain Cook in uncertain times

Cook had indicated that Root is ready for captaincy

As with any high-profile defeat, England’s series loss has been met with resentment back home. While Alastair Cook’s position as skipper may not be under any imminent threat, there are already murmurs pointing towards Joe Root’s availability as a suitable candidate.

A victory, howsoever unlikely, could brighten the mood around their camp to a significant extent. Since they do not have any Tests scheduled till their home season starts in July, the prospect of a long break from the game’s traditional format might allow them to play without any pressure.

#4 Chennai pitch dried by an innovative method

Chennai’s ground staff have resorted to coal stacks to dry the pitch (Image Courtesy: Nasser Hussain Twitter)

With the weather wreaking havoc in the city, the nature of the playing surface remains a big mystery. Traditionally, Chennai has always aided spinners with seamers finding ways to exploit reverse-swing on the hard pitch.

There could be a considerable amount of residual dampness this time around. The ground staff have been using stacks of coal in an attempt to dry the pitch. It will be interesting to see if the ball turns as much as what is the norm here. The weather should be clear for the majority of the match with scattered showers only predicted on the opening day.

#3 England could introduce a new spinner

Dawson has played an ODI and a T20I each thus far

With Mohammed Shami and Wriddhiman Saha not available for this Test as well, India are expected to retain the same playing eleven. On the other hand, England could try out quite a few things depending on their inclination towards experimentation.

First of those should see the uncapped spin all rounder Liam Dawson replacing one of the seamers. *James Anderson complained of ‘body soreness’ and has been ruled out. Having resumed bowling, Stuart Broad stands a good chance of returning to the eleven.

Probable XI

India

Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Karun Nair, Parthiv Patel (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Jayant Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Umesh Yadav

England

Alastair Cook (c), Keaton Jennings, Joe Root, Moeen Ali, Johnny Bairstow (wk), Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid, Chris Woakes/Stuart Broad and Jake Ball

(*Note: The article has been updated after James Anderson’s injury)

#2 Kohli’s team on the verge of creating national history

Another unbeaten Test match will establish a new Indian record

Here are a few important milestones relating to the fifth Test.

If they remain unbeaten in Chennai, India will extend their undefeated Test match streak to 18 games and thus create a new national record. They remained unbeaten in 17 consecutive Tests from September 1985 to March 1987.

If England lose, they will become the team with the most Test losses against India. They are currently tied with Australia on 24 defeats but the record should change hands once again as the Aussies are scheduled to visit these shores for a 4-match series early next year.

If India win, it will be their ninth Test victory in 2016. This would be their best ever haul in a calendar year beating the 8 Test victories that they had obtained in 2010.

Cook needs just two runs to become the tenth batsman in Test history to complete 11,000 runs.

#1 Ashwin and Vijay set for emotional homecoming

Vijay will be eager to make a mark on familiar territory

Naturally, the attention will centre around the local duo of Ashwin and Vijay. During the previous Test at this venue, the off-spinner had picked up 12 wickets against Michael Clarke's Australian side. But, the opener could only manage scores of 10 and 6 before coming into his own in the next two matches. With both in prime form, this could be an opportunity for the fans to witness two of the best players that Tamil Nadu has ever produced.

For the visitors, the onus will be on Stokes following his public outburst against ICC and Indian players. The mercurial all rounder might be eager to help England take back something meaningful from a series that has only exposed quite a few frailties in their setup.