England vs India, 2018: England's predicted XI for 1st Test

So, we are just five days short of the Test series between India and England which guarantees to be a hell of an encounter. The preparations are in full swing and both teams are ready to have a go at each other.

The five-match India vs England Test series is all set to kick-start on 1st August from the very famous Edgbaston in Birmingham.

ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) has announced a strong 13-member squad for the 1st Test against India. With a strong squad up their sleeve, the team selection will be the key for England in the 1st Test.

Thus, let us have a look at the predicted playing XI for England for the 1st Test against India.

England 1st Test Squad: Joe Root (C), Alastair Cook, Keaton Jennings, Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow (WK), Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali, Jos Buttler, Adil Rashid, Sam Curran, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, and James Porter.

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Openers: Alastair Cook and Keaton Jennings

Facing the opening music would be England's experienced Test campaigner and former Test captain, Alastair Cook. He has been England's aid in the opening department in the Test format for a long time now and is most likely to hold his place in the playing XI for the opening Test against India as well.

Off late, Cook has fared a bit of criticism, thus come the Test series he will be under a bit of pressure to perform and bulge runs for his team. However, irrespective of how the conditions will play, the left-handed batsman is expected to be a threat for the Indian team.

Accompanying Cook would be Keaton Jennings, who made his debut against India back in 2016 while scoring a century as well in his debut match. Making his debut at the famous Wankhede Stadium, Keaton made a stunning 112. His knock was also the highest by any Test opener against India in their debut innings.

Jennings has put up some good performances in the past for the England team and is expected to rake up runs for his team in the upcoming series against India.

Middle-Order: Joe Root (C), Dawid Malan, and Jos Buttler

Virat Kohli's counterpart Joe Root will be playing the famous number 3 spot in the 1st Test against India. For the past three years Root has been England's central figure in the Test format. Of late, the Test captain has been in some serious form with the bat.

Dawid Malan, the young prodigy, is expected to take the number 4 spot with which he has been most comfortable with in the past. With a lot of spin options up India's sleeve and the English conditions being on the warmer side, Malan will face a challenging task in the middle-order.

At number 5, Jos Buttler will be closing the middle-order slot. Buttler has been enjoying some good form at the moment and will only add to the strength of the English batting line-up for the 1st Test against India. Thus, the right-handed batsman is most likely to feature in the playing XI for the 1st Test against India.

Wicket-keeper: Jonny Bairstow

In recent times, Jonny Bairstow has evolved to become one of the best batsmen in the world while batting at number 6. The wicket-keeper batsman finished as one of the highest run-scorers last year while batting at number 6.

Safe to say, with umpteen spin abilities, Bairstow will be England's trump card against the spin troika of India in the upcoming Test series. Thus, with Bairstow at number 6, England will look to strengthen their batting line-up.

All-rounders: Moeen Ali and Ben Stokes

With Moeen Ali and Ben Stokes switching between the number 7 and number 8 spot, England's line-up will only get stronger. Both Ali and Stokes have proved to be one of the finest all-rounders for England in the red ball cricket.

Moeen Ali will play a decisive role in the playing XI after having considered England's current pitch conditions which have dried up considerably post the hot summer in England. Meanwhile, Stokes will be providing a support-hand to England's frontline fast bowlers.

Spinner: Adil Rashid

After having scrapped the red-ball cricket a short time back, Adil Rashid has made his way back to the Test once again which has come as a shock to many. However, considering the nature of pitches in the current frame of the year, this very decision of drafting Rashid in the Test squad might turn out to be a smart one.

Considering India's spin troubles in recent times and more importantly Virat Kohli's anguish against leg-spinners, England might be tempted to play Adil Rashid along with Moeen Ali.

Fast Bowlers: Stuart Broad and James Anderson

No brainer. Stuart Broad and James Anderson, the legendary bowling pair in the context of red ball cricket, will be England's frontline bowlers for the upcoming Test series against England.

James Anderson will be England's key bowler in the contest if ever they want to reign over India. Meanwhile, Stuart Broad's support-hand will be of no lesser importance than Anderson either.