Chennai: India have till now outplayed England in the ongoing Paytm Test Series and thus stand as the winners with one match to go. When India-England meet at Chennai for the final Test, England would be desperate to taste their first slice of success on the tour before going into the limited overs series. 

Although England have been extremely lucky with the toss, they hadn’t been able to utilize it to their advantage. Even if they have put a decent first innings total, their bowling hasn’t been up to the mark and England bowlers have failed to exert any kind of pressure which would force the batsmen to make error. England have also made certain selection blunders, having played just two spinners on a Wankhede track was one of them.

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England have to find out a way to win crucial moments, take the opportunities that are presented to them and only then perhaps they can come close to winning a Test. Senior batsmen have to come good and score those extra runs to try and compensate for their lack of pressure creating ability in the spin department. England haven’t played as well as they can, this is certainly not the best England performance considering the team. If England can perform at full capacity playing with intent, as it is they have nothing to lose, this could be a big confidence booster going into the limited overs series. England would love to see a wing against their name in the series, much better than a 4-0 or a 3-0.

India on the other hand will have its own ambition under Virat Kohli. They wouldn’t give an inch to the opposition and try and make it 4-0. Although India have already won the series, there have been situations in various games when either the match has been equally poised or India had been lagging but to come up from those situations and win a test so handsomely reflects the character of the team. Expect nothing different in Chennai. There might also be a good battle for a man of the series with R Ashwin and Virat Kohli in the race. Ashwin might just be ahead at the moment because of his impact both with the bat and bowl but not by much and stopping these two might be a big challenge for the England team. Chennai, another historical ground, will be host to another beautiful contest.
Action begins on December 16, 2016 at 9:30 AM IST M.A Chidambaram Stadium,Chepauk, Chennai.

Also Read: Ashwin is Virat Kohli’s go to man in Test cricket

Let’s have alook at the players to watch out for: -

England

1. Alaistar Cook

The only man to be in race to break Sachin’s Test record, Cook has all the experience that is needed to improve his game as a player and the team’s performance in the series as a captain. With an average of just below 40, Cook hasn’t had a bad outing but that’s not the Cook who toured India in 2012. If Cook can manage to reach somewhat close to his 2012 brilliance, England can very well be in a position to win the test at Chennai. Alaistar Cook needs to play the anchor’s role and try and go through as deep in the innings as possible.

2. Joe Root

One of the very best young cricketers in world cricket who is equally efficient in all three forms of the game, Joe Root is perhaps the most complete batsman in the England batting lineup. England’s leading run scorer in this series as well, Joe Root must not give it away after scoring half centuries and convert them into big knocks somewhat like Virat Kohli. If Root manages to do that, England will undoubtedly have a chance.

3. Adil Rashid

Rashid has been the only ray of hope for England bowling and although he has bowled a lot of overs to take wickets, he has somehow managed to take wickets which the other spinner/s haven’t been able to do from the other end. If Rashid can bowl those wicket-taking deliveries more frequently, England will have an easier time on the field.

India

1. Virat Kohli

The Indian Test skipper is averaging over 80 in Tests In 2016. This has been a glorious year for him in Tests with three Test double hundreds. His average has improved over six runs from January to December 2016. Coming after scoring a career best 235, Kohli can very well carry forward from where he left in Wankhede because consistency is another name for ViratKohli. Watch out for Kohli in the Chennai Test.

2. Murali Vijay

Murali Vijay has gone on to become a better and improved Test player every time he has had a bad phase. Murali Vijay applied himself at the middle and laid the foundation of India’s big score when he scored a century and was involved in big partnerships with Pujara and Kohli. Vijay can repeat his brilliance at Chennai and so he is our man to watch out for.

3. R Ashwin

Virat Kohli’s go to man in Tests and a native of the “players to watch out for” list if a team is playing India that too in Indian conditions. R Ashwin is deceptive, he is a street-smart cricketer, probably his engineer brain helps in the kind of variation he brings to his bowling. R Ashwin doesn’t feature in the team as only a bowler, he is a bowling all-rounder which makes his so vital to the team.If England play him well half their problems are solved.