England vs India 2018: 5 Things to Watch out for in the final Test

At Ageas Bowl, England not only won the Test match but also sealed the series. They have taken an unassailable lead of 3-1 ahead of the 5th Test match at Oval. India had their moments in the last game but moments don’t win you matches or series, especially in foreign conditions. Except for Ashwin, India’s bowlers were once again brilliant as they took the 20 wickets.

Cheteshwar Pujara played an absolute blinder in the first innings to score his first hundred in England. But India’s batting line-up collapsed once again after the fall of the wicket of Virat Kohli in the 2nd innings.

Moeen Ali, who was making a comeback to the Test team after a few months was absolutely brilliant with the ball.

He took 9 wickets and scored some vital runs in the first innings as well. India can be proud of the fact that they at least competed and weren’t outplayed.

But on the other hand, the No.1 Test team would be disappointed with the fact that they couldn’t cross the line. As Virat said, the scoreline doesn’t suggest how close the series has been.

The series has already been decided but there are a few things to watch out for in the fifth Test. So, let’s have a look at five such things.

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#5 Ravindra Jadeja – Will he get a chance?

Jadeja hasn't played a single Test in the last 7 overseas Tests

Ravindra Jadeja has been traveling with the Indian team since the South Africa tour but still, he hasn’t got a single game in the last seven overseas Test Matches.

He is currently ranked at No.3 in the ICC Test Bowler and Test All-Rounders rankings. He is one of the best bowlers when it comes to bowling accurately. He has been brilliant for India in the Indian conditions and reasonably good in overseas conditions whenever he has got a chance.

It was unfortunate that he wasn’t picked before Kuldeep Yadav. Ashwin’s below-par performance in Southampton might just work in the favor of Jadeja.

Ashwin hasn’t contributed much with the bat as well and Jadeja would definitely be more helpful in the field. It will be interesting to see if India go in with a left-arm spinner over an off-spinner for the fifth Test.

#4 Alastair Cook – Can he end on a high?

Cook will be playing his last Test at Oval

Alastair Cook has announced retirement after the final Test match at Oval. He is England’s most successful batsmen in the longest format.

He holds the record for the most number of consecutive appearances in Test matches. It will be difficult for England to replace him after his last match.

He is the second most successful captain for England. Cook is the only England captain to win a Test series in India and South Africa.

Cook hasn’t been in great form of late and that’s one of the reasons he has announced his retirement.

Only one batsman has scored a century in his last match against India. Can Cook repeat what Jacques Kallis did? His fans would definitely love to see another century from Cook’s bat. It will be one of the things to watch out for in this Test.

#3 Prithvi Shaw – Will he get a debut?

Shaw might replace Rahul in the 5th Test

Prithvi Shaw replaced Murali Vijay in the Indian squad after the third Test match. It came as a surprise considering the fact that Vijay has been in the team long enough to earn himself a bad patch. But if there was a batsman who deserved an opportunity it was Prithvi Shaw.

He was knocking on the door constantly and the door has finally opened for him. He has scored 1418 runs in just 14 matches at an average of 56.72 with seven first class hundreds to his name.

He was with the India A team which played some first-class games against England Lions and Windies A in England.

KL Rahul hasn’t scored enough runs to keep his place in the side and it won’t be a surprise if he makes his debut in the last Test at Oval.

#2 Kohli vs Anderson – Final Round of the Epic Battle

This epic battle will continue in the fifth Test at Oval

James Anderson had Virat Kohli’s number in 2014 when India toured England. This time he was prepared and to everyone’s surprise, he hasn’t been dismissed against Anderson even once in this series.

Interestingly, all the other England bowlers have had the privilege to take the wicket of Kohli. Anderson is the only bowler who hasn’t got it yet.

But Anderson has been unlucky at times as Kohli has been dropped off his bowling. Kohli has been batting at a different level.

He is the best batsmen in the series by far. The next best batsmen hasn’t even scored half the runs the Indian skipper has scored in the series.

On the other hand, Anderson is getting better with age. He is very close to breaking Glenn McGrath’s record.

It would be a fitting end to the battle if Anderson can break the record by taking the wicket of Kohli. But will the Indian captain give his wicket to the 36-year-old fast bowler? The battle will continue in the fifth Test match at Oval.

#1 Can India cross the line for the 2nd time in the series?

Can India make it 3-2?

India will be disappointed that they didn’t cross the line at Southampton. There were moments where India could have seized the momentum and close the doors for England.

But India kept giving England chances to make a comeback and they accepted that with open hands.

Even though India have lost the series they have to be determined to put up a good show in the 5th Test. 3-2 will look way better than 1-4.

England’s top order has been in the greatest of forms and that’s where India should put pressure on England.

But the difference has been the middle and the lower-middle order. India will be hoping that they can get their lower order batsmen quickly at least this time.

India’s bowlers would like to continue their good form and help India cross the line for the second time in the series.